續高僧傳 25.48

25.48

Śramaṇa Daofeng, whose clan origin is unknown, was called by contemporaries one who had attained the Way. Together with three disciples, he lived on Mount Gu in Xiangzhou, seeking neither gain nor support. Some said that he refined cinnabar, alchemy (yellow and white arts), medicine, divination, and physiognomy, leaving none of the worldly arts unmastered. Emperor Gao of Northern Qi, when traveling between Bingzhou and Ye, often visited and consulted him; Daofeng responded without hesitation, pointing out things as they arose. The emperor once ordered wine and steamed suckling pig, commanding them to be placed before Daofeng and ordering him to eat them. Daofeng made no refusal at all, but ate his fill with abandon. The emperor laughed heartily and said no more to him. After the imperial carriage departed, [Daofeng] said to his disciples, "Remove the items by the head of the couch." When they uncovered and cleared the couch, they saw that the previously served steamed suckling pig was still there, completely untouched as though never chewed. At that time, in Shikusi, there was a monk practicing sitting meditation. Every day toward the west, looking eastward toward the mountain peak, an eighteen-foot golden statue would appear. This monk rejoiced in secret, considering it an auspicious omen, and bowed in worship day after day, which went on for about two months. Later, lying down in his room, he suddenly heard a voice beside his pillow saying to him, "Where else in the world is there a Buddha? Your Way is now accomplished; you are the Buddha yourself! You should carry yourself properly as a Buddha; do not be careless and frivolous." Having heard this, the monk immediately assumed an air of dignity, looking upon the other monks as if they were weeds and chaff. In front of the great assembly, he pointed sideways to his chest and said, "Do you folks recognize the true Buddha? The clay shrines and painted images cannot even utter words from their lips—what wisdom or thought do they possess? You see the true Buddha yet know not to pay homage, still treating me as in former days; you shall all fall into Avīci!" Moreover, the pupils of his eyes had turned red, and he shouted erratically. The entire monastery knew this was meditation madness (dhyāna fright). Before it could fully break out, they carried him to Daofeng's place. [Daofeng] immediately addressed him, "Have you frequently seen a golden image appear on the eastern mountain over the past two months?" He answered, "I indeed saw it." [Daofeng] further said, "Did you hear a voice beside your pillow telling you to be a Buddha?" He answered, "It was indeed so." Daofeng said, "This is merely wind disturbance that has caused a loss of mind. If not treated early, you might run mad and become uncontrollable." He then applied needles to three acupuncture points, and thereupon the madness did not erupt. When Daofeng was approaching death, he said to his disciples, "I have been in these mountains for a long time, causing you the toil of drawing water from the valley. Now as I depart, I have nothing to leave you, so I shall leave a spring for you. With no more hardship of climbing and descending, apply yourselves diligently to cultivate your practice of the Way." He then pointed to a square stone near the hearth, and there emerged a dark spring, clear and reflective, neither overflowing nor diminishing; it still exists today.