高僧傳 12.25

12.25

釋曇弘，黃龍人。少修戒行，專精律部。宋永初中，南遊番禺，止臺寺。晚又適交趾之仙山寺。誦《無量壽》及《觀經》，誓心安養。以孝建二年於山上聚薪，密往𧂐中，以火自燒。弟子追及，抱持將還，半身已爛，經月小差。後近村設會，舉寺皆赴。弘於是日，復入谷燒身，村人追求，命已絕矣。於是益薪進火，明日乃盡。爾日村居民，咸見弘身黃金色，乘一金鹿，西行甚急，不暇暄涼。道俗方悟其神異，共收灰骨，以起塔焉。

Shi Tanhong was a native of Huanglong. From his youth he cultivated moral precepts and specialized in the Vinayapiṭaka. During the Yongchu era of the Song, he traveled south to Panyu and resided at Tai Temple. Later he went to Xianshan Temple in Jiaozhi. He recited the Amitāyus Sūtra and the Visualization Sūtra, dedicating his mind to Sukhāvatī. In the second year of the Xiaojian era, he gathered firewood on the mountain, secretly went into the pyre, and burned himself with fire. His disciples caught up with him, embraced him, and carried him back; half of his body was already charred, but after a month he slightly recovered. Later, an assembly was held in a neighboring village, and the whole monastery went to attend. On that day, [Tan]hong entered the valley again to burn his body. When the villagers pursued him, his life was already extinguished. Thereupon they added firewood and stoked the flames, which were completely consumed by the following day. On that day, the villagers all saw [Tan]hong's body golden in color, riding a golden deer and heading west in great haste, having no time to exchange greetings. Only then did the religious and laypeople realize his divine anomaly; together they collected his ashes and bones to erect a stūpa.