神僧傳 8.50

8.50

釋文爽。不知何許人。早解塵纓抉開愛網。從師問道。天然不睡。困憊之極亦惟趺坐。後獨棲丘隴間。霖雨浹旬旁無僮侍。有一蛇入爽手中蟠屈。時有人召齋。彼怪至時不赴。主重來請見蛇驚懼失聲。蛇乃徐徐而下。固命往食。爽辭過中不食。翌日有狼呀張其口。奮躍欲噬咋之狀者三。爽閔其饑。復自念曰。穢囊無悋施汝一飧。願疾成堅固之身。汝受吾施同歸善會。斯須狼乃弭耳而退。及其卒日空中鐘罄交響。遲久方息。

Shi Wenshuang's origins are unknown. Early on, he untied the worldly entanglements and broke through the net of attachment, following masters to inquire into the Way. By nature, he did not sleep; even when utterly exhausted, he would merely sit cross-legged. Later, he dwelt alone among hills and burial mounds. Continuous rains poured for ten days, and he had no attendants by his side. A snake entered Shuang's hand and coiled itself there. At that time, someone invited him to a vegetarian meal, and finding it strange that he did not arrive when the hour came, the host came again to invite him. Seeing the snake, the host cried out in terror. The snake then slowly slid down. The host insisted on him going to eat, but Shuang declined, as it had passed noon, when he would not eat. The next day, a wolf opened its mouth wide and leaped forward vigorously three times, as if about to bite and chew him. Shuang took pity on its hunger and thought to himself, "This impure bag of flesh does not begrudge giving you a single meal. May you quickly attain an adamantine body, and having received my gift, may we together return to a good gathering." In an instant, the wolf lowered its ears and retreated. When the day of his death came, the sounds of bells and chime stones echoed together in mid-air, ceasing only after a long time.