神僧傳 3.42

3.42

Shi Sengqun was pure and poor, maintained his integrity, ate vegetarian food, and upheld the sūtras. He resided on Mount Huo in Luojiang County, where he built a thatched hut standing solitary amidst the sea. Above was a stone basin with water six chi deep, with a constant clear flow. Ancient tradition had it that it was the dwelling of the immortals. Sengqun therefore abstained from grain. Between his hut and the stone basin was a small ravine; he always used a wooden log as a bridge to fetch water by it. When he reached the age of one hundred and thirty, he suddenly saw a duck with a broken wing blocking the end of the bridge. Sengqun was about to raise his monk's staff to push it aside, but feared he would injure it further. Because of this he turned back, abstained from water for several days, and passed away. When about to die, he said to his attendants, "In my youth, I once broke a duck's wing. This verifies that it is my retribution."