宋高僧傳 23.40

23.40

釋洪真，姓淳于氏，滑州酸棗人也。幼悟塵勞，決求出離，介然之性，雲鶴相高。師授《法華經》，隨文生解，鎧甲精進，伏其恚忿。或霑檀施，迴面捨旃，誦《法華經》約一萬部，詣朝門表乞焚全軀，供養佛塔。帝命弗俞，時政出多門，或譖云惑眾，或言不利國家，下勅嚴阻。真歎曰：「善根殖淺，魔障尤強，莫余敢止。」遂退廣愛寺，罄捨衣盂，作非時施。願畢，當年無疾坐滅。經數日，顏貌如生，遷就茶毘，唯舌根不壞，益更鮮紅。時眾觀之，歎希有事！春秋五十二。伊、洛之間重之如在。

Śramaṇa Hongzhen, secular surname Chunyu, was a native of Suanzao in Huazhou. In his youth he realized the toil of worldly dust and firmly sought liberation; upright in character, he soared high like clouds and cranes. When his master transmitted the Lotus Sūtra to him, he generated understanding following the text; clad in the armor of vigorous progress, he subdued anger and resentment. Whenever he received donations from patrons, he turned his face away and gave them up. Having recited the Lotus Sūtra approximately ten thousand times, he went to the palace gates and submitted a memorial begging to burn his entire body as an offering to the Buddha's pagoda. The emperor did not grant the request. At that time, political authority issued from many quarters: some slandered him, claiming he was deluding the masses, while others asserted it was disadvantageous to the state, and an imperial decree was issued strictly prohibiting it. Zhen sighed: 'My good roots were planted shallowly, and the demonic hindrances are particularly strong, so that none dare let me proceed.' He thereupon retired to Guang'ai Temple, completely abandoned his robes and bowl, and distributed non-timely alms. When his vows were fulfilled, in that very year he passed away while sitting, free of illness. After several days, his facial appearance remained as if alive; when he was moved for cremation, only his tongue root remained undestroyed, even more brightly red. The assembly at the time watched it and sighed at this rare occurrence! His age was fifty-two. Between the Yi and Luo rivers, people revered him as though he were still present.