續高僧傳 26.88

26.88

Śramaṇa Tanliang, surnamed Li, was a native of Luzhou. At sixteen he entered monastic life, devoting himself to searching out the scriptures. When he grew up and became accomplished in virtue, he won renown for the Da zhidu lun and also lectured on minor sūtras. In receiving and guiding contemporary folk, he frequently inspired them to take refuge in faith, and was esteemed by the virtuous assembly. He entered the capital to travel and hear lectures, residing at Zhenji Monastery. Emperor Wen issued an imperial decree summoning him to escort relics to Kaiji Monastery in Bozhou. As they were about to raise the pagoda, a stone casket had to be made first. The locality was not mountainous, and searching around made it difficult to find stone. Liang said, 'If we wait until stone is found, the appointed time will have arrived; provided we generate a superior mind, on what ground would we fail to succeed?' He then earnestly prayed, wishing for compassionate bestowal. Suddenly, three stones were obtained within the province: the bottom, the sides, and the lid came from different counties, yet when brought together and assembled, they fit as if one piece. The multitude marveled at it as extraordinary, and fully reported it to the Department of State Affairs. Liang by nature delighted in extraordinary traces and toured them all. In Guyang City in the western part of Bozhou, there was the residence of Laozi, which is now a shrine. In front of the courtyard were more than thirty cypress trees, with an inscription composed by Xue Daoheng. Over a hundred paces east of the shrine was the residence of Laozi's mother, which also had shrine halls. Further ten li to the west was the city of Ku, which is the place mentioned in the biographies where Li Dan was said to be a man of Ku County; this was the very place. Returning to his original monastery, he dedicated himself to sincere repentance and prostrations. Aside from eating and resting, he was constantly before the Buddha. In the early Tang he passed away, aged more than eighty.