宋高僧傳 13.5

13.5

Śramaṇa Fapu, whose secular surname was Pan, was a native of Lujiang. His appearance was ancient and his spirit broad; wrapping himself in tattered patched robes, he observed all quarters. During the Yuanhe era, seeing the exceptional beauty of Mount Huanggang, its steep and jagged peaks, and its luxuriant, dense forests, with a flat and lofty stone terrace in their midst, he set down his bag and hung up his staff, spreading rushes to sit among them. After a long while, he constructed a thatch-roofed hut leaning against a tree, just large enough to shelter his body. Before long, someone arrived via a small trail and, seeing Pu, was astonished and asked: 'For what reason did you come here?' He replied: 'I was walking at the foot of the mountain and saw purple mist soaring above the peak, winding delightfully, and thought that this mountain must contain something extraordinary; that is why I came.' Staring closely at Pu, he hesitated and then left. Practitioners at the foot of the mountain heard of it and sought him out. Within a few years, students of Chan suddenly numbered more than a hundred. Pu turned them away, saying: 'This old monk lives alone and has nothing to benefit others; nor do you gentlemen lack anything.' Consequently, there were many hermitages scattered like stars. His disciple Guangyan and others constructed a grand cloister; Chan guests gathered like birds, and those who transmitted his Dharma were countless. One day, he gathered the assembly and took leave, saying: 'My end has come. You all must abide well and take care!' Sitting cross-legged on a rope-chair, he passed away. His body did not decay or decompose, and later they lacquered it with fragrant clay. During the Qianfu era, they re-erected a stele and eulogy for him. Next is Śramaṇa Xiujing of Huayan Temple in the capital of Luoyang, whose origin is unknown. At the time when the Chan style of Dongshan was flourishing, Jing went to call upon him, resolving his doubts so that it was like thunder returning to its original position. He returned north to Luoyi to expound the Dharma. Once, while attending a feast in the imperial palace, all the celebrated dignitaries held scriptures and chanted aloud, but Jing and his disciples sat in silence. The emperor issued an inquiry: 'Why do you not recite the scriptures?' His response came like an echo, all in couplets, delighting the imperial mind. Soon after, he returned to Pingyang and manifested passing away. His relics were collected, and stupas were erected in four places. An imperial decree conferred the posthumous title Grand Master Baozhi, and his pagoda was named Wuwei.