續高僧傳 26.74

26.74

Śramaṇa Lingda was a native of Hengzhou. Earlier, he had thoroughly studied the classics and histories in the Confucian tradition, but he saw only mutual plotting and scheming; although people sometimes cherished benevolence and embraced righteousness, in the end they still sank into the realms of existence and could not avoid impermanence. Thereupon, shaving his hair, he entered the stream of the Way, hoping to venerate the correct path. He studied doctrinal principles under Master [Hui]yuan and came to know all of their profound import. Consequently, he followed him, never relinquishing the three actions [of body, speech, and mind]. When Lingda entered the capital, drawn by admiration for the teachings, [others] followed him. In his later years, he resided at Yanxing Monastery, withdrawing into seclusion to maintain his discipline. Restraining his body and mind, he remained in silent dhyāna for whole months, his clothing and food coarse and worn, seeking no luxury or elegance. During the Renshou reign era, an imperial decree summoned him to convey a relic to Longzang Monastery in his native prefecture. When the foundation was first laid, an unusual fragrance was smelled, gradually becoming rich and pungent, wafting with the wind throughout the monastery. There was a commoner named Jin Xuanzan living beside the monastery who had suffered from nasal obstruction for more than twenty years, incapable of discerning sweet scents or foul odours; on that very day, he suddenly smelled the fragrance, and in surprise followed it to the monastery, whereupon his rhinitis was cured. Furthermore, heavenly flowers rained down from the sky, their radiance fresh and pure, glistening like gold and silver; they fell first on the site of the stupa and later reached the monastic precincts. Clergy and laity vied to catch them, but they were as light and thin as gossamer. After the relic was interred, a pair of white cranes circled above the stupa and flew away after a long time. Later, Lingda continuously pursued meditative practices, seeking out mountain retreats. Indifferent to fame or actuality, he practiced dhūta in forests and cemeteries, fearing nothing even when encountering spirits and ghosts. At the beginning of the Daye reign era, he died among the grave mounds. At first, no one knew of it, but the villagers found it strange that he did not come begging for food. Going to see, [they found that] he had already passed away, sitting cross-legged as if still alive. They thereupon placed him together with his bed in a funeral cave in Ducheng.