續高僧傳 27.15

27.15

釋法凝。會州人也。俗姓龐氏。初齊武帝夢遊齊山。不知在何州縣。散頒天下覓之。時會州父老奏稱。去州城北七里。臣人山是舊號齊山。武帝遣於上立精舍。度僧給田業。凝以童子在先得度。專心持戒道德日新。月六年三齋供不斷。但以坐禪為念。出禪則誦經。恒常入禪。百姓爭往看。而不敢入。唯於窓中遙見。動經一月。出猶不食。大德名僧多往勸之。雖復進食漸漸微少。後年至七十。於佛像前置座而坐。初燒一指晝夜不動。火然及臂。諸人與弟子欲往撲滅。及有叫喚者。復有禁止不聽者。臂然火焰彌熾。遂及身。七日七夜。時俗男女有號哭自搥者。又有頂禮讚歎者。至身盡唯一聚灰。眾共埋之。於上起塔。今唯有一精舍在。餘皆摧滅。

Shi Fanian was a native of Huizhou. His secular surname was Pang. Formerly, Emperor Wu of the Qi dreamed of roaming Mount Qi, but did not know in which province or county it lay; he dispatched inquiries across the empire to seek it. At that time, elders of Huizhou submitted a memorial stating that seven li north of the provincial city lay Chenren Mountain, which was formerly called Mount Qi. Emperor Wu sent orders to establish a vihāra upon it, ordain monks, and grant fields and estates. Fanian was ordained first while still a boy. Concentrating his mind on observing the precepts, his virtue and practice grew daily renewed. On the six fast days of every month and during the three fast months, he provided offerings without interruption. He took only dhyāna sitting as his constant concern; emerging from dhyāna, he would recite the scriptures. He constantly entered dhyāna; the common people vied to go and see him, but dared not enter, viewing him only from afar through the window. Frequently a whole month would pass, and upon emerging he still would not eat. Many eminent monks and bhadantas went to urge him, and though he took food again, it was gradually less and less. Later, when he reached the age of seventy, he set up a seat before a Buddha image and sat down. At first he burned a single finger, remaining motionless day and night. The fire spread to his arm. Various people and disciples wished to rush in to put it out, some crying out, while others restrained them and forbade it. As the arm burned, the flames grew ever fiercer and finally reached his body. For seven days and seven nights, men and women among the local populace wailed and beat their breasts, while others prostrated and sang praises. When his body was consumed, only a single mound of ash remained. The assembly buried it together and erected a stupa over it. Today only a single vihāra remains; all the rest has fallen into ruin.