高僧傳 12.4

12.4

Shi Sengqun: it is not known where he was from. He was pure and poor, maintaining moral discipline, eating vegetarian food, and reciting sūtras. Later he moved to Mount Huo in Luojiang County, where he built a thatched hut. The mountain stood isolated in the sea; atop it was a stone basin several zhang across, with water six or seven chi deep, continuously flowing with clear water. The elders handed down the tradition that this was the dwelling of immortals. Sengqun drank the water and felt no hunger, so he gave up grain. Later, Tao Kui, the Grand Administrator of Jin'an, heard of this and sought some. Sengqun sent Kui the water, but as soon as it left the mountain it turned foul; this happened three or four times. Kui crossed the sea in person; the sky was very clear and sunny, but when he reached the mountain, wind and rain made it dark and overcast. He stayed for several days, but ultimately could not reach the summit, whereupon he sighed, 'A worldly mortal is, in the end, blocked from the sages and worthies!' and returned with regret.