神僧傳 3.24

3.24

Shi Daofeng was of unknown clan. His contemporaries called him one who had attained the Way. Together with three disciples, he lived in Mount Gu in Xiangzhou, seeking neither gain nor support. There was no mundane art or craft that he did not understand. When Emperor Gao of Qi travelled between Bingzhou and Ye, he would often visit and question him; Daofeng responded without hesitation, illustrating points according to the matter at hand. The emperor once ordered wine and steamed suckling pig to be placed before Daofeng, commanding him to eat. Daofeng made not the slightest gesture of refusal, eating his fill to his heart's content. The emperor laughed loudly and said nothing more to him. After the imperial carriage departed, [Daofeng] said to his disciples: "Clear away the things by the head of the bed." When they uncovered and cleared the bed, they saw that the earlier steamed suckling pig was still there, showing no sign of having been chewed or eaten. At that time, in Shiku Monastery, there was a meditation monk who, whenever evening arrived, would look eastward toward the mountain summit and see an eighteen-foot golden image appear. This monk rejoiced in secret, thinking he had beheld a divine omen, and bowed in worship day after day. This went on for about two months. Later, lying in his room, he suddenly heard a voice from beside his pillow speaking to him, saying: "Where else in the world is there a Buddha? You have now attained the Way and are yourself a Buddha. You should conduct yourself well as the Buddha's body; do not take yourself lightly." Having heard this, the monk immediately assumed a grave and dignified manner, looking upon the assembly of monks as if they were grass and mustard seeds. In front of the great assembly, he pointed sideways to his chest with his finger and said: "Do you all recognize the true Buddha or not? Images in clay niches and paintings cannot speak a word from their lips; what knowledge or thought do they have? You see the true Buddha yet know not to pay homage and respect; you still look at me with your ordinary eyes, destined that you all fall into Avīci!" Moreover, the pupils of his eyes had turned red, and he shouted about impermanence. The entire monastery knew this was a case of meditation fright (citta-vibhrama). Before it flared up uncontrollably, they carried him to Daofeng's place. [Daofeng] directly asked him: "For these past two months, have you constantly seen a golden image appear on the eastern mountain?" He answered: "I truly saw it." [Daofeng] also asked: "Did you hear [a voice] beside your pillow telling you to act as a Buddha?" He answered: "Truly so." Daofeng said: "This is merely wind disturbance causing the loss of your mind. If not treated early, you might run about madly and become difficult to control." He then used a needle to prick him in three places, and whereupon the condition did not flare up again. When Daofeng was near his end, he said to his disciples: "I have been in the mountains for a long time, causing you the toil of drawing water from the valley. Now that I am departing, I have nothing to leave you, but I shall leave a spring for you. Since there will be no bitterness of climbing up and down, strive diligently to cultivate the work of the Way." He then removed a square stone beside the stove, and a dark spring welled forth, clear and luminous, neither overflowing nor diminishing. It still exists today.