[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [釋氏稽古略](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037) › [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037~en-mt) › 3.167 # 釋氏稽古略 3.167 English (machine translation) 3.167 - **Language:** English ### [3.167](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037~en-mt.3.167) The Stone of Three Lives: The śramaṇa Yuanze resided at Huilin Monastery in Luoyang and was close friends with the hermit Li Yuan. Huilin was originally Yuan's old residence. His father Deng, defending the Eastern Capital, was killed by An Lushan. For this reason Yuan did not take office and constantly resided in the monastery. One day they happened to decide to travel together to Mount Emei. Yuan wished to take a boat from Jingzhou up the gorges; Ze wished to go by way of the Xie Valley in Chang'an. Yuan, having long severed human affairs, did not wish to re-enter the capital. Ze could not force him, so they went from Jingzhou by boat and moored at Nanpu. They saw a woman wearing a brocade apron carrying a jar to draw water. Ze looked at her and wept, saying, "The reason I did not wish to come this way was because of this." Yuan, startled, asked why. Ze said, "This woman has been pregnant for three years, waiting for me to become her son. Had we not met, it would have ended; but now that I have seen her, there is no escape. You should assist me with talismans and incantations to make me born quickly. Three days from now, when the child is bathed, I hope you will visit; I will take a smile as a sign of trust. Thirteen years later, outside Tianzhu Monastery in Hangzhou, I shall meet you again." Yuan mourned, and Ze bathed; by evening Ze had died. Three days after the woman gave birth, Yuan went to see the child; upon seeing Yuan, the child indeed broke into a wide smile. Yuan then told the family everything in detail. After the funeral affairs were concluded, Yuan returned to the monastery. Later, at the appointed time, he went from Luoyang to Wu to keep the appointment. Indeed, beside Ge Hong's well in front of Lower Tianzhu Monastery at the foot of Hangzhou's West Mountain, he heard a cowherd boy tapping the horns of an ox and singing: "An old spirit from atop the Stone of Three Lives; / Do not talk of admiring the moon and chanting in the wind. / I am touched that my dear friend has visited from afar; / Though this body is different, the nature always remains." Yuan said, "Is Master Ze well?" The boy replied, "Lord Li is truly a man of faith. Yet your worldly affinities are not yet ended, so do not draw near for now. Only by practicing diligently without indolence can we meet again." He then sang again: "Matters before and after life are vast and hazy; / Wanting to speak of cause and condition, I fear a broken heart. / Having searched through the rivers and mountains of Wu and Yue, / I turn my misty oars and ascend the Qutang Gorge." He then vanished. Yuan returned to Huilin Monastery. By the beginning of Changqing under Muzong, he was eighty years old. Palace Censor Li Deyu memorialized recommending him, and Muzong issued an edict appointing Yuan as Grand Master of Remonstrance, but Yuan did not accept (Book of Tang, Old History). - [Previous: 3.166](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037~en-mt.3.166) - [Next: 3.168](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037~en-mt.3.168) - [Up: 3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037~en-mt.3) ## Linked texts (1) - [釋氏稽古略](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037.3.167) — Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037~en-mt.3.167](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037~en-mt.3.167) · Pramāṇa