高僧傳 3.6

3.6

When he was about to reach Tianzhu, more than thirty li from Rājagṛha, there was a monastery, and he spent the night there as dusk drew near. The next morning, Faxian wished to go to Gṛdhrakūṭa Mountain. The monastery's monks admonished him, saying: "The path is extremely difficult and blocked, and furthermore there are many black lions that have repeatedly eaten people. How could you reach it?" Faxian said: "I have traveled tens of thousands [of li] from afar, having vowed to reach Gṛdhrakūṭa. My life cannot be counted on, and a breath out cannot be guaranteed. How could I allow the sincerity accumulated over years to be abandoned once I have arrived? Even if there are perils and hardships, I am not afraid." None of the assembly could stop him, so they dispatched two monks to escort him. Once Faxian arrived at the mountain, the sun was about to set, and he wished to stay overnight. The two monks were terrified, so they abandoned him and returned. Faxian remained alone on the mountain, burning incense and making prostrations, stirred with longing for the ancient traces as though beholding the holy presence. When night fell, three black lions came and squatted before Faxian, licking their lips and wagging their tails. Faxian chanted the sūtras without ceasing, single-mindedly mindful of the Buddha. The lions then lowered their heads and dropped their tails, crouching down before Faxian's feet. Faxian stroked them with his hand and recited an incantation, saying: "If you wish to harm me, wait until I have finished chanting; if you have come to test me, you may now retreat." After a good while, the lions departed. The next morning he returned. The path was secluded and blocked, with only a single track passable. When he was still more than a li away, he suddenly encountered a Daoist-monk, about ninety years of age, whose appearance and clothing were coarse and plain, yet his spirit was exceptional and lofty. Although Faxian perceived his noble demeanour, he did not realize that he was a divine person. Later, he encountered a young monk again. Faxian asked, "Who was that elderly person just now?" He answered, "He is a great disciple of the dhūta Kāśyapa." Faxian was then filled with deep lament and regret. He chased after him back to the mountain, but a crosswise stone blocked the entrance to the cave, so that he could not enter. Faxian wept tears and departed. He advanced to the kingdom of Kāśi. In this kingdom there was a white-eared dragon, which constantly made an agreement with the saṃgha to cause the harvest in the country to be abundant, all with reliable efficacy. The śramaṇas built a dragon shrine for it and provided blessed food. Whenever the summer retreat was completed, the dragon would transform into a small snake with both ears entirely white. The community all recognized it as the dragon, filled a bronze bowl with curd, and placed the dragon inside it. They carried it around from the most senior seat to the lowest, and only then would it transform and depart; it came out once every year, and Faxian also personally witnessed this.