續高僧傳 26.73

26.73

Śramaṇa Tanguan was a native of Juzhou. He left home at the age of seven, delighting in the abode of the Dharma. After receiving the full precepts, he investigated the schools of doctrine, specializing in the Tattvasiddhi-śāstra and unraveling abstruse perplexities. Later, believing that intellectual understanding disturbed the spiritual source, he returned to clear the origin, focusing his thoughts among the crags and ravines. He particularly applied his mind to the sixteen superior contemplations, and widely employed divine dhāraṇīs to dissolve evil obstacles. His high renown spread far and wide, reaching the imperial palace. At the beginning of the Kaihuang era, an imperial edict summoned him to the capital to reside at Daxingshan Temple. Offerings were lavish and inquiries after his health were made daily. Repeatedly ascending to the imperial court, he was seated upon splendid cushions; the emperor served him in person, revering his virtue and receiving the Dharma. Guan was broad-minded, generous, and substantial, with no superficial extravagance in his speech. Deeply attaining the patience of Dharma, he regarded suffering and joy with an empty mind; thus, though fame and gain increased daily, his plain demeanor remained unchanged. All offerings received from the faithful were surrendered to the saṃgha, his own room barren with only his robes and bowl. The worldly and decadent deeply admired him for this. In the middle of the Renshou era, he received an imperial decree to escort relics to Dinglin Temple in his home prefecture. Halting first at the official lodge, [the relics] immediately emitted a great light. Excavating the foundation to eight feet, a bronze stūpa was found, flat-topped with a circular base and two opposing doors, crafted as if by divine hands, its carvings startlingly fine. It was then used to contain the relics, placing the vial inside, and it fit perfectly. A resident of the prefecture named Qin Juhai, who had been mute for six years, heard that the relics had arrived and wrote a request to see the omen. He saw the single original grain divide into three, golden in color, now sinking and now rising; he also saw three Buddhas descend from the sky, whereupon he became able to speak fluently and smoothly. Guan returned to the capital, and the circumstances of his end are not known.