續高僧傳 26.61

26.61

釋僧順。貝州人。習學涅槃。文疏精覈。志勤策立。堪勝艱苦。常樂弘法於囹圄中。無緣拘縶假訴良善。文書既効方便雪他。投身桎梏情志欣泰。監獄者愍斯厄苦將欲解免。方取經疏鋪舒詳讀。旁為囚隷說法勸化。事本無蹤還蒙放釋。出獄之日猶恨太早。有問其故。答曰。吾聞諸聖地獄化生。雖不逮彼且事微轍。開皇隆法。杖步入關。採訪經術住玄法寺。及後造塔。勅召送舍利于宋州。初到宋城。市中古井由來醎苦。水色又赤。無敢甞者。及舍利至。色忽變白味如甜蜜。至造塔所。初放赤光又放白光通照寺內。七日辰時天雨白花。如雪不落紛紛滿空。及下塔時。白鶴九頭飛翔塔上。下函既了。方乃北逝。順後還京遊尋行業。唐運初興巡栖山世。年既遲暮欲事終心。行至霸川驪山南足。遇見古寺。龕窟崩壞形像縱橫。即住修理。先有主護。乃具表請武皇特聽。遂得安復。今之津梁寺是也。僕射蕭瑀。為大檀越。福事所資咸從宋國。僧眾濟濟有倫理焉。順後卒於住寺。春秋八十餘矣。

Śramaṇa Sengshun was a native of Beizhou. He studied the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, examining texts and commentaries with meticulous scrutiny; resolute in his endeavors, he could endure hardships. He always rejoiced in propagating the Dharma within prisons. Having no cause to be detained, he falsely confessed to shield the innocent; once the documents took effect, he conveniently cleared the other person. Casting himself into fetters, his feelings and aspirations were joyful and at ease. The prison warden took pity on his distress and wished to release him; [Shun] then took out sūtras and commentaries, spread them out, and read them carefully, expounding the Dharma and converting the prisoners beside him. Since the matter originally had no trace of reality, he was again granted release. On the day he left prison, he still regretted that it was too early. Someone asked him the reason, and he replied: "I have heard that the holy ones transformed beings in hell. Although I cannot match them, I may still engage in this humble path."

When the Dharma flourished in the Kaihuang era, he walked with a staff into the passes, seeking sūtras and treatises, and resided at Xuanfa Monastery. Later, when pagodas were constructed, an imperial decree summoned him to escort relics to Songzhou. When he first arrived at Songcheng, an old well in the market had long been salty and bitter, and the water was red; no one dared taste it. When the relics arrived, its colour suddenly turned white and its taste became sweet like honey. When he reached the place where the pagoda was being constructed, it first emitted a red light and then emitted a white light, illuminating the entire monastery. On the seventh day, at the hour of the Dragon (7:00–9:00 AM), the sky rained white flowers like snow that did not fall, fluttering and filling the sky. When the pagoda was being enclosed, nine white cranes flew and soared above the pagoda; only after the casket was lowered did they fly to the north.

Shun later returned to the capital, roaming and pursuing his vocation. At the beginning of the Tang dynasty, he wandered and dwelt between the mountains and the world. As his years grew late, he wished to settle his mind at the end; traveling to Mount Li on the south foot of the Ba River, he encountered an ancient monastery whose grottoes had collapsed, with statues lying scattered about. He immediately stayed to restore it; seeing that there were previous overseers, he submitted a memorial requesting the special permission of Emperor Gaozu, and thus was able to settle and restore it. This is the present Jinliang Monastery. The Vice Director of the Right, Xiao Yu, served as the great dāna-pati; all the provisions for meritorious deeds were supplied from the State of Song. The assembly of monks was abundant and orderly. Shun later passed away at his residing monastery, at the age of over eighty.