神僧傳 5.10

5.10

Shi Daoxian, also named Sengxian, was originally a native of the country of Kangju. At first he engaged in commerce as his livelihood. Later, he met Chan Master Sengda, who expounded the Dharma for him. Thereupon, he sank his treasure ship in the river, took leave of his wife and children, went to Zhulin Monastery at Guankou, and renounced household life. On the day his hair was shaved, he swore before the assembly: 'If I do not attain the Way, I will not leave this mountain.' He then went far away from human traces and built a hut in a secluded crag. Companions in Chan practice gathered there one after another. Whenever he opened a scripture and saw that the Buddha was at a certain place, he never failed to choke with tears, saying: 'Why did I not encounter him, but only see his remaining texts?' Xian stood out extraordinary and unattached, living among wild birds and beasts. When someone came to inquire about methods of study, he always answered with skillful means that invisibly aligned with correct principles. From the time he first entered absorption, a single sitting routinely lasted four or five days. Whenever a guest was about to arrive at his gate, he would spontaneously perceive it, rise, and meet them. If no one came, he sat upright in his quiet room, empty and silent as space. Sometimes he foretold: 'Tomorrow guests will arrive,' numbering up to hundreds or thousands, and all happened just as he had spoken, without the slightest discrepancy. Prince Dan of Shixing under the Liang dynasty, while governing the Three Shu regions, paid him homage as a master and brought him to Shan. At that time, Daoist abbeys were lofty and grand, and the caps and robes of Daoists were flourishing. They subjected him to insults and revilement, which caused great concern to others. Xian, however, remained at ease, never minding it. One evening, the Daoists suddenly saw a fire break out on the eastern hill; fearing the wildfire would burn and harm Xian, they each held water containers to rescue him. They saw Xian seated in the midst of the great fire, the fierce flames burning brightly, and all marveled at the divine power of his fire-light. The Daoist Li Xuezu and others donated land to make images, and a monastery and stūpa were suddenly completed; nine out of ten homes far and near took refuge and believed. Wang Hui, Prince of Poyang and Inspector of the province, personally paid homage and received the Dharma. Toward the end of the Tianjian reign-period, the Prince of Shixing had a miraculous inspiration and made images of the Four Heavenly Kings at Liangtai Monastery; every morning on the six fast days he regularly offered pure meals. Later, when Xian attended the gathering, five-colored light shone from the crowns of the Four Kings, and flames spontaneously broke out from the censer Xian held. Formerly, when Grand Defender Lu Fahe was in humble circumstances, he spent several years on the mountain serving Xian. When a monk reprimanded him harshly, Xian said: 'This man will become a noble of the Three Excellencies; why insult him?' At the time, no one understood his future nobility, but Fahe indeed later rose to the ceremonial robes of high office. When Xian was once weary and ill, a boy in light-blue clothes was seen emerging from the Qingxi waters, holding a bowl of wonderful medicine, kneeling and offering it for him to take; before long, he was cured. After residing on the mountain for twenty-eight years, he traveled again to the Jingluo region, where his teachings flourished greatly. At that time, a severe drought occurred, and the populace requested him to pray for rain. Xian went directly to a dragon cave and knocked on the entrance with his staff, repeatedly saying: 'Why are sentient beings so fond of sleeping?' No sooner had he spoken than dark clouds gathered from all four directions and torrential rain poured down. The people relied on this blessing and all came to offer sacrifices of gratitude, revering him like a celestial deity. If someone required relics, he would pray for them, and they would arrive in response to his thought, exactly as needed. When Prince Xiu of Shu under the Sui dynasty was garrisoned at Minluo, he heard of Xian and promptly sent messengers to summon him, but Xian refused to obey the command. The prince's countenance changed in rage, and he personally led armed soldiers to capture him, ordering: 'If he remains stubbornly obstinate, put him to the blade at once.' When Xian heard the soldiers were coming, he had no fear at all; calling for his saṅghāṭī, he put on his robe, sat upright, and recollected the Buddha. When the prince reached the foot of the mountain, clouds and rain suddenly poured forth mixed with falling hail and snow; water surged to fill the valleys, leaving no way to conceal the carriages. In this desperate plight, the prince bowed and repented from afar. Thereupon, the sky cleared, the rain stopped, the mountain paths became level, and he was able to reach Xian's place. The prince showed the utmost respect in person, and Xian expounded the Dharma for him, renewing his faith. The prince then invited him to return to Jingzhong Monastery in Chengdu, honoring him with lavish rituals; the entire state respected him, calling him 'Acharya Xian.' During the Kaihuang reign-period, he returned to the mountain monastery; the roads cleaned themselves and the mountain spirits swept before him. At over a hundred years of age, he died while sitting upright.