續高僧傳 26.74

26.74

釋靈達。恒州人。先在儒門備參經史。唯見更相圖略。時有懷仁抱義。然復終淪諸有未免無常。乃釋髮道流希崇正軌。從遠公學義。咸知大意。因即依隨。三業無捨。及達之入京輦。慕義相從。晚住延興。退隱自守。端斂身心終月禪默。衣食麁弊不希華美。仁壽中。勅召送舍利於本州龍藏寺。初定基趾聞有異香。漸漸芬烈隨風而至遍於寺內。有民金玄瓚者。住在寺側。先患鼻塞。二十餘年莫知香臭。當于此日忽聞香氣。驚尋至寺因爾齆差。又雨天花從空而下。光彩鮮淨晃若金銀。先降塔所後及寺院。道俗競接輕薄如鏤。下舍利訖有雙白鶴。旋於塔上良久翔逝。達後連尋定業追訪山世。不顧名實頭陀林塚雖逢神鬼都不怖憚。大業之始終於墓叢。初不委之村人怪不乞食。就看已卒。加趺如在。因合床殮於杜城窟中。

Śramaṇa Lingda was a native of Hengzhou. Earlier, he had thoroughly studied the classics and histories in the Confucian tradition, but he saw only mutual plotting and scheming; although people sometimes cherished benevolence and embraced righteousness, in the end they still sank into the realms of existence and could not avoid impermanence. Thereupon, shaving his hair, he entered the stream of the Way, hoping to venerate the correct path. He studied doctrinal principles under Master [Hui]yuan and came to know all of their profound import. Consequently, he followed him, never relinquishing the three actions [of body, speech, and mind]. When Lingda entered the capital, drawn by admiration for the teachings, [others] followed him. In his later years, he resided at Yanxing Monastery, withdrawing into seclusion to maintain his discipline. Restraining his body and mind, he remained in silent dhyāna for whole months, his clothing and food coarse and worn, seeking no luxury or elegance. During the Renshou reign era, an imperial decree summoned him to convey a relic to Longzang Monastery in his native prefecture. When the foundation was first laid, an unusual fragrance was smelled, gradually becoming rich and pungent, wafting with the wind throughout the monastery. There was a commoner named Jin Xuanzan living beside the monastery who had suffered from nasal obstruction for more than twenty years, incapable of discerning sweet scents or foul odours; on that very day, he suddenly smelled the fragrance, and in surprise followed it to the monastery, whereupon his rhinitis was cured. Furthermore, heavenly flowers rained down from the sky, their radiance fresh and pure, glistening like gold and silver; they fell first on the site of the stupa and later reached the monastic precincts. Clergy and laity vied to catch them, but they were as light and thin as gossamer. After the relic was interred, a pair of white cranes circled above the stupa and flew away after a long time. Later, Lingda continuously pursued meditative practices, seeking out mountain retreats. Indifferent to fame or actuality, he practiced dhūta in forests and cemeteries, fearing nothing even when encountering spirits and ghosts. At the beginning of the Daye reign era, he died among the grave mounds. At first, no one knew of it, but the villagers found it strange that he did not come begging for food. Going to see, [they found that] he had already passed away, sitting cross-legged as if still alive. They thereupon placed him together with his bed in a funeral cave in Ducheng.