神僧傳 8.12

8.12

釋玄宗。俗姓吳氏。永嘉人也。少時出塵氣度寬裕。於本部永定山寶壽院。依常靜為師。既得戒已還諸方遊學。抵江陵詣朗禪師門決了疑貳。復振錫他行。見紫金山悅可自心。留行禪觀。此山先多虎暴。或噬行商。或傷樵子。從宗卜居哮㘚絕迹。入山者無憚焉。一日禪從擁集。見一老父趨及座前。拜跪勤恪。宗問子何人耶答云。我本虎也。在此山中食啖眾生。因大師化此。冥迴我心得脫業軀。已生天道故來報謝。折旋之頃了無所見。以大曆二年囑別門徒溘然而化。春秋八十六。二月入塔立碑存焉。

Shi Xuanzong had the secular surname of Wu and was a native of Yongjia. When young, he left worldly dust, his bearing magnanimous and lenient. At the Baoshou Cloister on Mount Yongding in his home commandery, he took Changjing as his teacher. Having received the full precepts, he traveled to various regions to study. Reaching Jiangling, he went to the gate of Chan Master Lang to resolve his doubts. Striking his staff, he traveled elsewhere; seeing Mount Zijin, his heart was pleased with it, and he remained there to practice Chan contemplation. Previously, this mountain had many violent tigers, which would either devour traveling merchants or injure woodcutters. From the time Xuanzong chose to dwell there, their roars ceased entirely, and those entering the mountain had no fear. One day, when his Chan followers gathered around, they saw an old man hurry forward to the seat, bowing and prostrating with diligence and respect. Xuanzong asked: 'Who are you, sir?' He replied: 'I was originally a tiger. In this mountain I devoured living beings. Because the Great Master converted [this place], my mind was invisibly transformed, and I was able to shed my karmic body. Having already been reborn in the heavenly realm, I have come to express my gratitude.' In the space of turning around, he was nowhere to be seen. In the second year of the Dali era, taking leave of his disciples with final instructions, he passed away suddenly at the age of eighty-six. In the second month, he was entombed in a stūpa, and a stele was erected, which still survives.