宋高僧傳 29.42

29.42

釋懷空，俗姓商氏，河陽人也。膏粱之子，幼且矜莊。乃辭所親，就本州大都山廣福院出家。大明禪師默識空之器局不常，教誦群經。納法之後，觀方京都。屬北秀禪師闡化，造而決疑。後往安陸定安山，倏遇一叟，勸空鎮壓此川，我霑大利。乃結茅而止，前叟即土地神耳。尋因村民逐虎入山，見空歡喜而白之曰：「此中多虎暴，村落不安，願和尚示以息災之法。」空曰：「虎亦眾生也，若屠害於彼，彼必來報。迭相償報，何時斷期乎？老僧為諸君計者，善可禳去。」鄉人曰：「愚下無知，唯教所在。」空曰：「汝歸舍，同心陳置道場，施設大會。」空預法筵。至日之夕矣，有一虎於庵前瞑目伏地。空曰：「咄哉惡類，一報未滅，更增宿殃，噬人倫也。天不見誅，死當墮獄。吾憫汝哉！」虎被責已，忽遲迴而逝。明日齋散上山，其虎在庵前，領其七子，將齋餘擲之，各食訖。為其懺悔，七虎相次俱亡。百姓胥悅，且曰：「從師居此，俗無疵癘，仍年穀熟。」致拜而退。時張遼大夫為州牧，遣府吏慕容興往請入州，空謝病不起。部領工匠，為建禪宮。畢，示疾而終，享年八十三。貞元三年三月十六日火葬，收舍利入塔焉。

Shi Huaikong, whose secular surname was Shang, was a native of Heyang. Born to a wealthy family, he was already grave and dignified in his youth. He took leave of his relatives and went to Guangfu Cloister on Mount Dadu in his native prefecture to enter the monastic life. Chan Master Daming recognized silently that Kong's capacity was extraordinary and taught him to recite the various scriptures. After receiving the precepts, he traveled to the capital to observe. Meeting with Chan Master Shenxiu of the North who was then promulgating the teachings, Huaikong visited him to resolve his doubts. Later he went to Mount Ding'an in Anlu, where he suddenly encountered an old man who urged him: 'Subdue and settle this valley, and I will partake of great benefit.' Huaikong then thatched a hut and stayed there; the old man was none other than the local earth deity. Soon after, because villagers were chasing a tiger into the mountain, they were delighted to see Kong and told him: 'Tigers are rampant here, leaving the village in unrest; we pray that the Venerable Monk teach us a method to avert this calamity.' Kong said: 'A tiger is also a sentient being. If you slaughter and harm it, it will surely retaliate. If you mutually repay vengeance, when will there ever be an end? If this old monk may offer a plan for you all, doing good can avert it.' The villagers said: 'We, simple and ignorant, rely entirely on your instruction.' Kong said: 'Return to your homes, unite your minds to set up a place of practice, and prepare a great assembly.' Kong attended the Dharma banquet. At nightfall, a tiger closed its eyes and prostrated itself on the ground before the hermitage. Kong said: 'Alas, you evil beast! Before one karmic retribution has ended, you incur even more past calamities by devouring mankind. If Heaven does not execute you, you will fall into hell upon death. I pity you!' Having been rebuked, the tiger suddenly hesitated and left. The next day, when the vegetarian feast dispersed and people went up the mountain, the tiger was in front of the hermitage leading its seven cubs. The leftover food from the feast was thrown to them, and they all ate it. He administered repentance on their behalf, and the seven tigers subsequently all died one after another. The common people were overjoyed, saying: 'Ever since the master has dwelt here, our community has suffered no pestilence, and the harvests have been abundant year after year.' They bowed and withdrew. At that time, Grand Master Zhang Liao was the prefect of the commandery; he sent the administrative officer Murong Xing to invite Huaikong to the city, but Kong declined on grounds of illness and did not rise. The officer then led craftsmen to construct a Chan monastery for him. When it was completed, Huaikong manifested illness and died at the age of eighty-three. On the sixteenth day of the third month of the third year of Zhenyuan, he was cremated, and his relics were gathered into a stupa.