[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [神僧傳](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2064) › 8.16 # 神僧傳 8.16 神僧傳 8.16 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [8.16](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2064.8.16) 釋崇惠。姓章氏。杭州人也。穉秣之年。往禮徑山國一禪師為弟子。復誓志於潛落雲寺遁跡。俄有神白惠曰。師持佛頂少結莎訶令密語不圓。莎訶者成就義也。今京室佛法為外教凌轢。其危若綴旒。待師解救耳。惠趨程西上。大曆三年大清宮道士史華上奏。請與釋宗當代名流角佛力道法勝負。于時代宗欽尚空門。異道憤其偏重。故有是請也。遂於東明觀壇前架刀成梯。史華登躡如常磴道馬。時緇伍互相顧望推排無敢躡者。惠聞之謁開府魚朝恩。魚奏請於章信寺庭樹梯橫架鋒刃若霜雪。然增高百尺。東明之梯極為低下。時朝廷公貴市肆居民。駢足摩肩而觀此舉。惠徒跣登級下層有如坦路。曾無難色。復蹈烈火手探油湯。仍餐鐵葉號為䬪飥。或嚼釘線聲猶脆飴。史華怯懼慚惶掩袂而退。時眾彈指歎嗟聲若雷響。帝遣中官鞏庭玉宣慰再三。便齎賜紫方袍一副焉。 > Shi Chonghui, surnamed Zhang, was a native of Hangzhou. In his youth, he went to pay homage to Dhyāna Master Guoyi of Jingshan and became his disciple. He then made a vow to conceal his traces at Luoyun Monastery in Qian. Soon, a spirit reported to Chonghui, saying: "The master chants the Uṣṇīṣa \[Dhāraṇī\] but rarely concludes with 'svāhā', leaving the secret mantra incomplete. 'Svāhā' signifies accomplishment. At present, the Buddha's teaching in the capital is being oppressed by external teachings, hanging in balance as precarious as a row of attached banners. It awaits only the Master's deliverance." Chonghui set off on his journey westward. In the third year of Dali, the Daoist Shi Hua of Daqing Palace submitted a memorial requesting a contest between the contemporary luminaries of the Buddhist school and himself to determine the superiority of the Buddha's power versus Daoist arts. At that time, Emperor Daizong revered the Buddhist gates, and the adherents of different paths were indignant at his partiality; hence this request was made. A ladder of swords was subsequently constructed before the altar of Dongming Abbey. Shi Hua ascended and stepped upon it as though mounting ordinary stone stairs. At that time, the monastic assembly looked at one another, hesitating and stepping back, none daring to climb it. Hearing of this, Chonghui went to visit the Regional Commander Yu Chao'en. Yu submitted a memorial requesting to erect a ladder in the courtyard of Zhangxin Monastery, crosswise set with blades gleaming like frost and snow, yet increasing its height by a hundred feet; the ladder at Dongming was exceedingly low in comparison. At that time, court officials, noblemen, and market inhabitants stood shoulder to shoulder and heel to toe to witness this deed. Chonghui walked barefoot, ascending the rungs and descending the steps as though walking on a level road, without the slightest sign of difficulty. Furthermore, he trod upon fierce flames and plunged his hands into boiling oil. He also ate iron leaves, calling them noodle dumplings, and chewed iron nail wire, the sound resembling brittle malt sugar. Shi Hua was frightened, ashamed, and terrified, covering his sleeves and retreating. At that time, the assembly snapped their fingers in admiration, their cries resounding like thunder. The Emperor dispatched the palace attendant Gong Tingyu to offer imperial condolences and praise repeatedly, and thereupon presented him with a set of purple square monastic robes. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 8.15](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2064.8.15) - [Next: 8.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2064.8.17) - [Up: 8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2064.8) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2064~en-mt.8.16) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2064.8.16](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2064.8.16) · Pramāṇa