神僧傳 5.38

5.38

釋曇詢。姓楊氏。弘農華陰人。後遷宅于河東郡焉。年二十二方捨俗事遠訪巖隱。遊至白鹿山北林落泉寺逢曇淮禪師而蒙剃髮。後經三夏移住鹿土谷修禪。屬枯泉重出鹿糜繞院。故得美水馴獸日濟道隣。從學之徒相慶茲瑞。時因請法暫往雲門。值徑陰霧昏便成失道。賴山神示路方會本途。時有盜來竊蔬菜將欲出園。乃為群蜂所螫（音拭）詢聞來救。慈心將治得全餘命。甞有趙人遠至慇懃致禮陳云。因病死復蘇。得見閻王詰問罪當就獄。賴有曇詢禪師來為請命。王因放免特來禮謝。又山行值二虎相鬪累時不歇。詢乃執錫分之以身為翳。語云。同居林藪計為大乖。幸各分路。虎低頭受命。便飲氣而散。屢逢態虎交諍事略同此。而或廓居榛梗。唯詢一蹤入鳥不亂獸見如偶。每入禪定七日為期。白虎入房仍為窟宅。獨虎靜院不出十年。自有禪蹤斯人罕擬。初遘疾彌留。忽有神光照燭香風拂扇。又感異鳥白頸赤身。繞院空飛聲唳哀切。氣至大漸鳥住堂基。自後狎附不畏人物。或在房門至于臥席。悲叫逾甚血沸眼中。既爾往化。鳥便飛出外空旋轉奄然翔逝。又感猛虎繞院悲吼兩宵雲昏三日天地結慘。又加山崩石墜林摧㵎塞。驚發人畜栖遑失據。其哀感靈祥未可殫記。後以武德五年十二月。弟子靜休道願慧方等乃闍毘餘質建塔立碑焉。

Shi Tanxun had the lay surname Yang and was a native of Huayin in Hongnong; his family later moved their residence to Hedong Commandery. At the age of twenty-two, he finally renounced worldly affairs and traveled far to seek mountain hermitages. Traveling to Bailu Mountain, at Luoquan Temple in Beilin, he met Chan Master Tanhua and received tonsure from him. After three summer retreats, he moved to reside in Lutugu to practice meditation. As it happened, a dried spring welled forth again, and deer and elaphures circled the courtyard; thus obtaining delicious water and tamed beasts, his practice was aided daily, and his disciples rejoiced together over this auspicious sign. Once, having requested the Dharma, he went briefly to Yunmen; encountering dense clouds and dark fog along the path, he lost his way. Relying on a mountain spirit who revealed the path, he met with his original route. At one time, a thief came to steal vegetables; just as he was about to leave the garden, he was stung by a swarm of bees. Xun, hearing this, came to rescue him, treating him with a compassionate heart so that his remaining life was preserved. Once, a man from Zhao came from afar, bowed with earnest courtesy, and stated that having died of illness and revived, he had seen King Yama interrogate him, and he was to be cast into hell; relying on Chan Master Tanxun who came to plead for his life, the King had released and pardoned him, so he had come especially to pay his respects and offer thanks. Also, while walking in the mountains, he came across two tigers fighting each other, continuing for hours without ceasing. Xun then held his staff, separated them, and used his body as a shield, saying, "Dwelling together in the forest, fighting is a grave error. I urge you to go your separate ways." The tigers lowered their heads, accepted his instruction, swallowed their rage, and dispersed. He repeatedly encountered ferocious tigers fighting, and the circumstances were roughly similar to this. At other times, living secluded amid brambles and thickets, with Xun as the sole presence, he walked among birds without disturbing them, and beasts looked upon him as a companion. Each time he entered meditative absorption, he set a period of seven days; a white tiger entered his room, using it as its lair. He remained alone with the tiger in the quiet courtyard without emerging for ten years; since the dawn of meditative practice, few have rivaled this man. When he first fell ill and his condition lingered, suddenly a divine light shone brightly, and a fragrant breeze wafted gently. There was also a wondrous bird with a white neck and red body that flew circling above the courtyard, its cries mournful and piercing. When his breath reached the final extremity, the bird rested upon the base of the hall; thereafter, it grew tame and attached, not fearing humans or animals, perching at the door of his room or upon his bed, crying all the more sorrowfully, with blood welling in its eyes. Once Xun passed away, the bird flew up into the sky outside, circled around, and suddenly soared away. Furthermore, a fierce tiger circled the courtyard, roaring sorrowfully for two nights; dark clouds shrouded for three days, and heaven and earth took on a somber gloom. In addition, mountains collapsed, rocks fell, forests were smashed, and ravines were blocked, frightening humans and beasts into roaming anxiously without shelter. These mournful responses and spiritual omens cannot be fully recorded. Later, in the twelfth month of the fifth year of the Wude era, his disciples Jingxiu, Daoyuan, Huifang, and others cremated his remaining remains, erected a stupa, and set up a stele.