宋高僧傳 23.55

23.55

釋懷德，本江南人也。髫年離俗，謹愿飾身，誦通《法華經》，得度。自爾雖登講肆，終以誦持為專務。晚遊泗上，禮僧伽塔像。屬今上遣高品李神福齎旛華上供，并感應舍利至，葬于新塔下基深窟中。德遂誓焚軀供養。先罄捨衣囊、供身之物，齋僧一中。然後自衣紙服，身纏油蠟，禮辭僧眾，手持雙燭，登柴𧂐中，發火誦經。觀者莫不揮涕。德至火熾熛高，其身聊側，猶微聞誦經之聲。一城之人無不悲悼者。淘汰舍利甚多，乃太平興國八年四月八日也。使臣回奏，上為之動容焉。

Shi Huaide was originally a native of Jiangnan. In his youth he left the secular world, conducting himself with prudence and rectitude, and attained ordination after reciting the Lotus Sūtra with complete fluency. From then on, though he ascended the lecture platforms, he made reciting and upholding [sūtras] his sole commitment. In his later years he traveled to the Si River region, paying homage to the stūpa and icon of Saṅgha. It coincided with the present Emperor dispatching Li Shenfu, an attendant of high rank, carrying banners and flowers to make offerings, together with the arrival of responsive śarīra, which were interred in a deep crypt beneath the foundation of the new stūpa. De thereupon vowed to burn his body as an offering. He first gave away all his robes, bags, and personal belongings, offering a midday vegetarian feast to the saṅgha. Then, dressing himself in paper garments and wrapping his body in oil and wax, he took leave of the monks with prostrations, held a pair of candles in his hands, climbed into the wood pyre, lit the fire, and recited sūtras. None among the onlookers could hold back their tears. As the fire blazed and flames soared high, De leaned slightly to one side, and the sound of reciting sūtras could still faintly be heard. Not one person in the whole city failed to grieve. Very many śarīra were recovered. This took place on the eighth day of the fourth month of the eighth year of Taiping Xingguo. When the imperial envoy returned and reported to the throne, the Emperor was visibly moved.