神僧傳 1.9

1.9

An Qing, whose courtesy name was Shigao, was a crown prince of the Arsacid Empire. In his youth he was renowned for filial conduct, and in addition his intellect was keen and sharp, earnestly dedicated to learning. The classics and records of foreign countries, as well as the seven luminaries, the five phases, medical methods, esoteric arts, and even the sounds of birds and beasts, there were none he did not master thoroughly. Once while traveling, he saw a flock of swallows and suddenly said to his companions: 'The swallows say that someone should bring food.' In a short while, someone indeed presented it, and all were amazed at him. His extraordinary reputation spread early throughout the Western Regions. He yielded the kingdom, renounced household life, and cultivated the Path, becoming extensively versed in the scriptural canon and especially proficient in the study of Abhidharma. Soon afterward, he traveled through various regions and visited countries far and wide, arriving in the Central Lands in the early years of Emperor Huan of Han. He thoroughly learned the Chinese language and translated various sūtras, manifesting many divine traces. He spoke of himself as having already renounced household life in a previous life. He had a fellow student who was prone to anger; when performing piṇḍapāta, whenever he encountered a donor who was not pleasing, he would always harbor resentment. Shigao repeatedly rebuked and admonished him, but in the end he did not mend his ways. After more than twenty years of this, he parted from this fellow student, saying: 'I must go to Guangzhou to settle an encounter of past karma. Your comprehension of the scriptures and diligent practice are not behind mine, but by nature you harbor much resentment; upon the end of life, you must receive an evil form. If I attain the Path, I will surely deliver you.' Soon afterward, he went to Guangzhou, where he encountered bandit uprisings. On the road he met a youth, who spat on his hands, drew his blade, and said: 'I have truly caught you!' Shigao smiled and said: 'In past karma I owed you; I have come from afar to repay it. Your anger is still the intention from a former life.' He then extended his neck to receive the blade, without any sign of fear on his countenance. The youth killed him. The spectators crowded the thoroughfare, none of whom were not terrified by this extraordinary event. Soon after, his consciousness returned to become the crown prince of the Arsacid king. He traveled to convert the Central Lands. During the disturbances in Guan and Luo at the end of Emperor Ling's reign, he raised his mendicant's staff toward Jiangnan, saying: 'I shall pass Mount Lu to deliver my former fellow student.' Traveling, he reached the shrine at Lake Gongting. This shrine had long possessed awe-inspiring divine power; when merchant travelers prayed, it could divide the wind to send their boats up and down the lake, none experiencing delay. Once someone asked the spirit for bamboo; taking it without permission, the boat immediately capsized and the bamboo returned to its original place. From then on, boatmen held the spirit in respectful dread, and none dared even cast their shadow toward it. Shigao and his companions, in thirty-odd boats, offered livestock to pray for blessings. The spirit then descended through a shaman, saying: 'There is a śramaṇa on the boat; you may call him up at once.' The travelers were all astounded and invited Shigao to enter the shrine. The spirit addressed Shigao, saying: 'In the past in a foreign country, I renounced household life and studied the Path together with you. I was fond of practicing dāna, but by nature was prone to wrath. Now I am the spirit of the Gongting shrine; a circumference of a thousand li is all under my governance. Because of dāna, rare treasures are exceedingly abundant; because of anger, I fell into this divine retribution. Now, seeing my fellow student, my sorrow and joy are beyond words. My lifespan will end in a morning or an evening, yet my ugly form is long and great. If I give up my life here, it will pollute the rivers and lakes; I must cross to the marsh west of the mountain. After this body perishes, I fear I will fall into hell. I have a thousand bolts of silk and assorted treasures; you may establish Dharma and construct a stūpa for me, so that I may be born in a good realm.' Shigao said: 'I have come from afar to deliver you; why do you not show your form?' The spirit said: 'My form is extremely ugly and bizarre; the crowd would surely be terrified.' Shigao said: 'Just come forth; the crowd will not find it strange.' From behind the couch, the spirit brought out its head—it was a huge python, the length of whose tail was unknown. It reached to Shigao's knees. Shigao addressed it several times in the Sanskrit language and chanted praises several stanzas. The python wept tears like rain, and in an instant concealed itself again. Shigao then took the silk and goods, bid farewell, and departed. The boat companions hoisted sail; the python again emerged and climbed the mountain to gaze after them, disappearing only after the people raised their hands. In a flash, they reached Yuzhang, where Shigao used the shrine's goods to build the Eastern Monastery. After Shigao departed, the spirit immediately ended its life. In the evening, a youth boarded the boat, knelt before Shigao, received his blessing and prayer, and suddenly vanished. Shigao said to the boatmen: 'The youth just now was the spirit of the Gongting shrine; he has been able to leave his evil form.' Thereupon the shrine spirit ceased to be, possessing no further efficacy. Later, people saw a dead python in the marsh west of the mountain, its head and tail stretching several li; this is the present Snake Village in Xunyang Commandery. Later, Shigao went again to Guangzhou to seek out the youth who had killed him in his previous life. At that time, the youth was still alive. Shigao went straight to his house, recounted the matter of the past repayment of retribution, and narrated their past karmic connection. Facing each other with joy, he said: 'I still have a remaining retribution; I must now go to Kuaiji to complete the settlement.' The traveler of Guangzhou realized that Shigao was no ordinary man; suddenly enlightened in mind, he repented of his former transgression, generously supplied him with provisions, and followed Shigao on his eastward journey. They thereupon reached Kuaiji. As soon as they entered the market, it happened that there were people brawling in the market, who mistakenly struck Shigao's head, and he died on the spot. The traveler of Guangzhou had repeatedly verified the two retributions; he thereupon diligently pursued the Buddha's Dharma and fully related the circumstances of these events. When those near and far heard of it, none did not sigh in wonder.