神僧傳 3.32

3.32

釋僧達。俗姓李氏。上谷人。十五出家。遊學北代聽習為業。初經營山寺。將入谷口虎踞其前。乃祝曰。欲造一寺福被幽靈。若相許者可為避道。言訖尋去。及造寺竟安眾綜業。達返鄴京。夜有神現。身被黃服。拜而跪曰。弟子是戴山胡也。王及三谷正備供養。願不須還。達曰。在山利少在京利多。貧道觀機而動。幸無遮止。又經靜夜有推戶者。稱曰山神之妻。曰日無暇今故參拜。并奉米糕一筐。進而重曰。僧無偏為禮佛之時。請兼弟子名也。達答糕可將還。後當為禮佛兼名也。因令通禮之時一拜兼唱。達遣弟子道爽為山神讀金光明經。月餘有虎來盜犬去。達聞之曰。此必小道人懈怠不為檀越讀經。具問之。果云。年日來別讀維摩耳。乃燒香禮佛告曰。昨雖誦餘經其福亦屬檀越。若有靈鑒放犬還也。至曉犬還。看於頂上有衘嚙處。一日少覺微疾。端坐繩床。口誦般若。形氣調靜。遂終於洪谷山寺。春秋八十有二。

Shi Sengda's secular surname was Li; he was a native of Shanggu. He renounced household life at the age of fifteen, and traveled to study in Northern Dai, making listening and practice his occupation. When he first began to build a mountain monastery and was about to enter the valley mouth, a tiger crouched before him. He then prayed, saying: 'I wish to build a monastery so that its merit may cover unseen spirits. If you permit this, please clear the way.' Having spoken, it immediately departed. When the monastery was completed, the assembly settled, and their duties organized, Sengda returned to the capital of Ye. At night, a deity appeared, wearing yellow garments. He bowed, knelt, and said: 'Your disciple is the Hu [spirit] of Mount Dai. The king and the three valleys are currently preparing offerings; we hope you will not need to return.' Sengda said: 'The benefit in the mountain is small; the benefit in the capital is great. This poor monk acts according to conditions; pray do not hinder me.' Another quiet night, someone pushed the door, calling herself the wife of the mountain deity, saying: 'During the day I had no leisure, so I have now come to pay my respects,' and offered a basket of rice cakes. Stepping forward, she repeated: 'Monks should not be partial; when paying homage to the Buddha, please also include your disciple's name.' Sengda replied: 'The cakes may be taken back; later, when paying homage to the Buddha, I shall include your name.' Thereupon, he ordered that during the general homage, her name be announced with a single bow. Sengda dispatched his disciple Daoshuang to read the Suvarṇaprabhāsa-sūtra for the mountain deity. After more than a month, a tiger came and carried off a dog. Hearing of this, Sengda said: 'This must be the little practitioner being indolent and not reading the sūtra for the dānapati.' Inquiring fully into the matter, [Daoshuang] indeed said: 'In recent days, I have only been reading the Vimalakīrti-sūtra.' Thereupon, Sengda burned incense, bowed to the Buddha, and announced: 'Although he chanted other sūtras yesterday, the merit also belongs to the dānapati. If there is spiritual discernment, release the dog to return.' By dawn, the dog returned; looking at its crown, there were marks where it had been bitten and carried. One day, feeling slightly unwell, he sat upright on a rope chair, his mouth chanting the Prajñā[-pāramitā], his physical appearance and breath calm and tranquil. He then passed away at Honggu Mountain Monastery at the age of eighty-two.