高僧傳 12.37

12.37

釋僧生，姓袁，蜀郡郫人。少出家，以苦行致稱。成都宋豐等，請為三賢寺主。誦《法華》，習禪定。常於山中誦經，有虎來蹲其前，誦竟乃去。後每至諷詠，輒見左右四人為侍衛。年雖衰老，而翹勤彌厲。後微疾，便語侍者云：「吾將去矣，死後可為燒身。」弟子依遺命。

Shi Sengsheng, whose lay surname was Yuan, was a native of Pi in Shu Commandery. He left household life in his youth and gained renown for his austere practices. Song Feng and others of Chengdu invited him to be the abbot of Sanxian Temple. He recited the Lotus Sūtra and practiced dhyāna meditation. While reciting sūtras in the mountains, a tiger came and crouched before him, leaving only when he finished reciting. Later, whenever he chanted, he consistently saw four people standing guard beside him. Though advanced in age, his vigor and diligence grew ever more earnest. Later, slightly ill, he said to his attendant, "I am about to depart; after my death you may cremate my body." His disciples followed his testamentary instructions.