神僧傳 4.27

4.27

Shi Zhixiang, surnamed Hao, was a native of Fu in Zitong. He once served as a minor clerk in Baxi Commandery. Grand Protector Zheng Zhen ordered Xiang to take tribute items down to the capital Yangdu, where he saw Emperor Wu of Liang, princes, and dukes venerating the Buddhist teachings, whereupon he wished to renounce household life. He returned to Shu to take his resolute vow. His family members, together with his wife and children, sharing Xiang's aspiration, had their hair shaved off all at once. After renouncing household life, he devoted himself to ascetic practices, eating one meal a day and always sitting up, keeping his mind focused on Buddhist principles and dedicating his life to it. At that time, in Nanwu Commandery, there was a man of the Way named Fa'ai who boastfully displayed magical arts; Xiang went to observe him. In the evening, Ai used his own mantra power to manifest a great deity, dressed in robes and cap, with an imposing and majestic appearance, which came and lifted the rope bed four or five feet off the ground. Xiang then recited the precepts, and the deity immediately ran away. A moment later it came back and lifted the bed, moving only one corner, and retreated as before. Shortly after, it came again and stood in front of Xiang. Xiang kept his mind upright and pure, without the slightest stir. Soon after, it left again and manifested its face on the roof; the beams of the building cracked with a very loud noise. Xiang was also without fear. Seeing that he was unmoved, the deity came forward to bow, pleading for mercy and repenting. In the morning, Xiang said to Ai, "What you value is heterodox arts, not the correct Dharma; you should abandon it." Later, travelling along the road, Xiang stayed overnight at a Daoist abbey. The Daoist priests, who had heard of Xiang's renown, feared he would convert their followers and refused to admit him. That night, a pack of tigers circled the courtyard, roaring at one another. The Daoist priests were uneasy the entire night. At dawn, they pursued him and received the bodhisattva precepts from him. He also once walked along the bank of the Hongnong River and saw someone angling with a line; Xiang urged him to stop, but the man did not follow his words. Xiang then spat into the water; suddenly a great serpent raised its head, looked in all four directions, and came toward the fisherman. Thereupon the man took refuge, approached Xiang, and renounced household life. Later, because of the military chaos at the end of the Liang, he entered Mount Qingcheng to gather followers and cultivate practice; before he had time to establish it, he passed away. Early on, when Xiang stayed at Bailin Temple west of the city of Mianzhou, after the compound buildings were completed, he planted a parasol tree in front of the main hall, which grew exceedingly luxuriant. In a summer month, its leaves suddenly fell without cause. Furthermore, when the karmadāna struck the bell in the morning, it made no sound at all. Both senior and junior monastics were perplexed and suspicious, not knowing why. The senior monk, thinking there would be a great disaster, grasped his khakkhara staff and fled. In a short while, a message arrived reporting that Xiang had already passed away; only then did they know that the withered tree and choked bell were portents of the morning of his passing. His disciples, carrying out his instruction, exposed his corpse beneath the pines.