宋高僧傳 20.15

20.15

釋玄宗，姓吳氏，永嘉人也。少時出塵，氣度寬裕，於本部永定山寶壽院依常靜為師。照得戒已，還諸方遊學，抵江陵詞朗禪師門，若真金之就冶焉。決了疑貳，復振錫他行，見紫金山悅可自心，留行禪觀。此山先多虎暴，或噬行商，或傷樵子——避苛政者，哭婦堪哀。從宗卜居，哮㘚絕迹，自邇入山者無憚矣。一日禪徒擁集，見一老父趨及座前，拜跪勤恪。宗問：「子何人耶？」答云：「我本虎也，在此山中食啖眾生。因大師化此，冥迴我心，得脫業軀，已生天道，故來報謝。」折旋之頃，了無所見。以大曆二年囑別門徒，溘然化矣。春秋八十六，二月入塔，立碑存焉。

Śramaṇa Xuanzong, surnamed Wu, was a native of Yongjia. In his youth he left worldly dust, his temperament generous and forgiving. In his home commandery, at the Baoshou Cloister on Mount Yongding, he relied on Changjing as his master. After receiving the precepts, he returned to travel and study in various quarters. He reached the gate of Chan Master Cilang in Jiangling, resembling true gold being brought to the forge. Having resolved his doubts, he again shook his staff to travel elsewhere. Seeing Mount Zijin, his heart was pleased and delighted, and he remained there to practice Chan contemplation. This mountain had previously suffered from ferocious tigers, which either devoured traveling merchants or harmed woodcutters—as with those fleeing harsh government, the weeping woman was truly pitiful. From the time Zong took up residence, roaring and howling vanished without a trace, and thereafter those entering the mountain had no fear. One day, as his Chan disciples gathered around him, an old man was seen hurrying before the seat, bowing and kneeling with diligent reverence. Zong asked: "Who are you?" He replied: "I was originally a tiger, devouring sentient beings in this mountain. Because the Great Master has transformed this place, my mind has been transformed in the unseen realms; I have escaped my karmic body and have already been born in the heavenly realm. Therefore I come to give thanks." In the turn of a moment, he was nowhere to be seen. In the second year of the Dali era, having given his parting instructions to his disciples, he suddenly passed away. His worldly age was eighty-six. In the second month, he was placed in a stupa, and a stele was erected to commemorate him.