宋高僧傳 20.8

20.8

Shi Puhua was of unknown origin. His disposition was extraordinary, and he was largely frank and unrestrained, simple and carefree in conduct, and uninhibited in speech. He personally served Chan Master Jishen of Panshan, who gave him secret instructions and guidance; entering deeply into the inner sanctum, he was admonished to preserve and maintain it, but he acted crazy and wild. He once met Master Xuan of Linji and responded to him with a donkey's bray, at which the attendants could not help laughing. He would break into song and dance on the spot, or immediately wail in grief. When people interacted with him, he assumed a thousand changes and ten thousand postures, with no constant pattern whatsoever. One day, carrying a coffin under his arm, he paraded through the streets, going from house to house to take leave, saying: "Puhua will die tomorrow." At the time, observing him, people knew he was beyond reproach. The people of Zhao gathered and followed him out through the eastern gate of the city, but he loudly declared: "To bury today does not accord with the Book of Blue Crow." Two days later he went out through the southern gate, and the people followed him again; he said once more: "Only tomorrow will be auspicious." In this manner he went to the western and northern gates, going out and returning, until the people grew weary and their attention waned. One morning he sat in the countryside, as if entering dhyāna absorption. Authors of the Chan tradition, because his utterances anticipated awakening, classified Puhua into the category of "unattached sages," meaning he was not a regular member of the ranks.