續高僧傳 26.67

26.67

Śramaṇa Zhijiao was a native of Yongzhou. He practiced the recitation of various sūtras, his mind set on dhyāna contemplation. By day he perused and read, and by night he sat in silence. Free and unrestrained in non-action, he harbored no worldly entanglements. He lived at Hongshan Temple, residing in leisure and practicing his vocation. In the middle of the Renshou era, when a pagoda was erected at Yongning Temple in Qinzhou, an imperial edict ordered him to escort [the relics]. Upon arriving at the pagoda site, that night coincided with the poṣadha; an extraordinary fragrance like mist gathered and entered through the gate. The entire assembly marveled together and rejoiced at what they smelled and saw. Moreover, in front of the central mast atop the pagoda, footprints of a great man were seen, one foot two inches long, sunk two tenths of an inch deep, with the circular whorls of all ten toes fully complete. When sought, they left no further tracks; they were indeed a divine omen. Furthermore, extraordinary clouds gathered densely above the pagoda, and heavenly flowers resembling gold and jewels rained down. Sounds of praising the Buddha were also heard in the sky. Officials and commoners, clerics and laity celebrated and danced with joy. Jiao returned to his home temple to continue his vocation until the end of his days.