續高僧傳 16.46

16.46

Śramaṇa Fachong, surnamed Bi, was a native of Jiujiang. He constantly recited the *Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra* and read the *Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra*, the number of times being difficult to tally. In addition, he repaired and built temple buildings, his mind focused on sustaining the monastic community. In his later years, he resided halfway up Mount Lu at the Huacheng Temple to cultivate concentration. Unless on monastic business, he never took a single improper step outside. He repeatedly exhorted the monastic community not to permit women to enter the temple, which above harmed the Buddha's transforming work and below degraded them into popular mockery. However, as the world prioritized material holdings and property, there were those who would not comply. Chong sighed and said: 'To be born without encountering a Buddha is already a karmic offense. If the correct teachings are not practiced, it is right that I should die early; why worry that this region will not uphold the precepts?' Thereupon, from atop the Xianglu Peak on this mountain, he threw himself down, vowing to shatter his body and bones so as to be reborn in the Pure Land. Midair, his head suddenly flipped upward, and he drifted down slowly into the deep ravine, without a single hair being harmed. The temple community initially knew nothing of it. Later, someone walked on the path atop the peak, looked down more than a thousand fathoms, and heard the sound of a human voice. Going down to search, it was Chong; his physical life was still preserved, and he was reciting as before. They welcomed him back to the temple. The monks, moved by his willingness to remonstrate with death, barred women [from the temple]. After six years, he finally passed away. At the time it was the height of summer, yet his corpse did not rot or stink, but smelled fragrant like ripe melon. This was at the end of the Kaihuang era of the Sui dynasty.