神僧傳 2.24

2.24

Shi Senglang: his clan and ancestry are unknown; he was a person of Jingzhao. In his youth, he traveled abroad, inquiring into the Way in Chang'an, and then returned to Guanzhong, devoting himself solely to lecturing and expounding. Once, when traveling with several companions to attend an invitation, on reaching midway he suddenly told his fellows, saying, "The clothing and articles in your temples seem to be being stolen." When they returned according to his words, there were indeed thieves. Later, he established a separate vihāra in Jinyu Valley on Mount Kunlun, founding and constructing chambers and rooms, with dozens of inner and outer dwellings. Over one hundred people who heard of his repute came to him. Lang untiringly instructed and guided them, never complaining of weariness. Fu Jian, King of Qin, revering his pristine virtue, sent an envoy to make offerings to him. Later, when Jian purged the monastic assembly, he issued a special edict, stating: "Dharma Master Lang's precept virtue is pure as frost and ice, and his disciples are pure and eminent. The entire mountain of Kunlun is exempt from the reckoning of dismissal." In the valley there had formerly been the scourge of tigers, so that people would always carry staves and travel in groups; but when Lang came to dwell there, the fierce beasts submitted, so that whether traveling at dawn or going by night, both monastics and laity were unimpeded. The common folk marveled and praised his goodness boundlessly, and therefore to this day it is called Master Lang's Valley. Whenever people came to visit Lang, no matter how many or few, he always foresaw it a day before they arrived, and would order his disciples to prepare food and drink for them; and they inevitably arrived just as he had said. All marveled at his perspicacity of foresight. Later, he passed away on the mountain at eighty-five years of age.