佛祖統紀 9.9

9.9

禪師大善。幼棲林野常誦法華。後參南岳得開觀慧。躬行法華三昧所入最深。常於山中講釋論時眾推服。大都督吳明徹問南岳曰。法華禪門真德幾何。岳曰。信重三千業高四百。僧照得定最深。智顗說法無礙。兼之者大善也。後於禪堂趺坐而逝。七日之內。天常雨華異香凝結。衡陽令陳正業。聞師道德之盛。每往禮敬。蒙示法要內心歡喜。後見內史鄭僧杲。數稱師德。嘗同獵圍鹿一群。謂正業曰。君常稱善禪師有慈悲三昧力。今日其如此鹿何。正業即率左右同聲念南無大善禪師。應時群鹿騰空而出。僧杲為之駭服（涅槃五百力士。舉石不能佛擲置虛空。令力士貢高心息。爾時實不舉石。當知慈善根力令見此事）。

Chan Master Dashan dwelt in the forests and wilds in his youth, constantly reciting the Lotus Sūtra. Later, visiting Nanyue, he opened his contemplative wisdom; personally practicing the Lotus Samādhi, his entry into it was the deepest. He frequently lectured on the Treatise [on the Great Prajñāpāramitā] in the mountains, commanding the admiration of the assembly. Grand Commander-in-Chief Wu Mingche asked Nanyue: "How many people possess true virtue in the meditation gates of the Lotus?" Nanyue replied: "Three thousand of firm faith, and four hundred of high karmic attainment. Sengzhao's attainment of concentration is the deepest, and Zhiyi's preaching of the Dharma is unhindered; the one who combines both is Dashan." Later, he passed away while sitting cross-legged in the meditation hall. Within seven days, flowers constantly rained from heaven, and extraordinary fragrance condensed. Chen Zhengye, Magistrate of Hengyang, hearing of the greatness of the Master's virtue and path, went frequently to pay respect; being shown the essentials of the Dharma, his heart rejoiced. Later, meeting Regional Director Zheng Senggao, he repeatedly praised the Master's virtue. Once, while hunting together, they surrounded a herd of deer. [Zheng] said to Zhengye: "You constantly praise Chan Master Shan as possessing the power of the samādhi of loving-kindness. Today, what can he do about these deer?" Zhengye then led his attendants to chant in unison: "Homage to Chan Master Dashan!" In that instant, the deer leaped through the air and escaped. Senggao was awestruck and won over. (When the five hundred wrestlers in the Nirvāṇa Sūtra could not lift the stone, the Buddha tossed it into empty space to quell the wrestlers' haughtiness. In reality, he did not lift the stone at that time; one should know that it was the power of the root of goodness of loving-kindness that caused this to be seen.)