高僧傳 10.41

10.41

Toward the end of the Taiping era, Shi knew that the time for Tao's conversion was drawing near, and on the day of the New Year's court assembly, he suddenly arrived at the palace gates leaning on his staff. An official memorialized, "There is a Daoist monk whose feet are whiter than his face, who entered through the gate." Tao ordered that he be dealt with according to military law, but repeated executions failed to injure him. When this was hastily reported to Tao, Tao was furious; taking his own sword, he struck him himself, but the body suffered no harm at all, only showing a mark like a cloth thread where the sword had touched. At that time, tigers were kept in cages in the Northern Garden, and Tao ordered that Shi be fed to them. The tigers all crouched down and never dared approach him. When they tried bringing the Heavenly Master near the cage, the tigers roared each time. Tao then realized that the Buddha's transformation was exalted and lofty, beyond the reach of the teachings of Huang-Lao. He at once invited Shi up to the palace hall, bowed his head at his feet, and repented his faults and errors. Shi preached the Dharma for him, clearly expounding cause and effect. Tao felt great shame and dread, and subsequently contracted a virulent pestilence. The two men, Cui and Kou, next fell ill with foul diseases. Tao held them responsible for the offense, whereupon he executed both their families, completely exterminating their lineages. He issued an edict throughout the realm to revive the correct teaching. Shortly thereafter Tao died, and his grandson Jun succeeded to the throne, whereupon he began to greatly propagate the Buddhadharma, which has flourished down to the present day. Where Shi ended his days is unknown.