高僧傳 9.6

9.6

At that time, Shi Le stationed his troops at Gebei, relying solely on slaughter to exert his authority, and the śramaṇas who met their deaths were very numerous. Deng took pity on the common people and wished to convert Le through the Way; thereupon, leaning on his staff, he went to the camp gate. Le's senior general Guo Heilüe had long revered the Dharma, and Deng went to lodge at Lüe's house. Lüe received the five precepts from him and paid him the courtesies due to a disciple. Later, when Lüe accompanied Le on military expeditions, he always foretold victory or defeat beforehand. Le became suspicious and asked: 'I have not noticed that you possess extraordinary wisdom and strategy, yet you always know the good or bad fortune of the army's movements. Why is this?' Lüe said: 'The general is endowed by heaven with divine martial prowess, aided by unseen spirits. There is a śramaṇa of extraordinary arts and wisdom who says that the general will gain control of China, and he has already served as my master. What I have reported previously came entirely from his words.' Le was delighted and said: 'He is a gift from heaven!' He summoned Deng and asked: 'What spiritual verifications does the Buddhist Way have?' Deng knew that Le did not comprehend profound principles and could only be convinced by miraculous arts. He therefore said: 'Although the supreme Way is far, it can be verified by near matters.' He then took an alms bowl, filled it with water, burned incense, and recited spells over it. In an instant, a blue padma sprouted, its brilliant color dazzling to the eye; Le was thereby convinced and won over. Deng then remonstrated: 'When a ruler's virtuous transformation spreads throughout the realm, the four divine creatures display omens. When governance falls into decay and the Way wanes, comets appear above. The constant heavenly phenomena are manifested, and auspiciousness or disaster follows upon conduct. These are the regular proofs of ancient and modern times, and the clear warnings between heaven and man.' Le was very pleased with this. Out of all those who were to be executed, eighty to ninety percent benefited from his intervention. Thereupon, the barbarians and Chinese of the central provinces almost all revered Buddhism. At that time, when there were chronic illnesses that no one in the world could cure, Deng treated them, and they were relieved and healed immediately. Those who received his secret aid and silent benefit could not be numbered.