神僧傳 5.38

5.38

Shi Tanxun had the lay surname Yang and was a native of Huayin in Hongnong; his family later moved their residence to Hedong Commandery. At the age of twenty-two, he finally renounced worldly affairs and traveled far to seek mountain hermitages. Traveling to Bailu Mountain, at Luoquan Temple in Beilin, he met Chan Master Tanhua and received tonsure from him. After three summer retreats, he moved to reside in Lutugu to practice meditation. As it happened, a dried spring welled forth again, and deer and elaphures circled the courtyard; thus obtaining delicious water and tamed beasts, his practice was aided daily, and his disciples rejoiced together over this auspicious sign. Once, having requested the Dharma, he went briefly to Yunmen; encountering dense clouds and dark fog along the path, he lost his way. Relying on a mountain spirit who revealed the path, he met with his original route. At one time, a thief came to steal vegetables; just as he was about to leave the garden, he was stung by a swarm of bees. Xun, hearing this, came to rescue him, treating him with a compassionate heart so that his remaining life was preserved. Once, a man from Zhao came from afar, bowed with earnest courtesy, and stated that having died of illness and revived, he had seen King Yama interrogate him, and he was to be cast into hell; relying on Chan Master Tanxun who came to plead for his life, the King had released and pardoned him, so he had come especially to pay his respects and offer thanks. Also, while walking in the mountains, he came across two tigers fighting each other, continuing for hours without ceasing. Xun then held his staff, separated them, and used his body as a shield, saying, "Dwelling together in the forest, fighting is a grave error. I urge you to go your separate ways." The tigers lowered their heads, accepted his instruction, swallowed their rage, and dispersed. He repeatedly encountered ferocious tigers fighting, and the circumstances were roughly similar to this. At other times, living secluded amid brambles and thickets, with Xun as the sole presence, he walked among birds without disturbing them, and beasts looked upon him as a companion. Each time he entered meditative absorption, he set a period of seven days; a white tiger entered his room, using it as its lair. He remained alone with the tiger in the quiet courtyard without emerging for ten years; since the dawn of meditative practice, few have rivaled this man. When he first fell ill and his condition lingered, suddenly a divine light shone brightly, and a fragrant breeze wafted gently. There was also a wondrous bird with a white neck and red body that flew circling above the courtyard, its cries mournful and piercing. When his breath reached the final extremity, the bird rested upon the base of the hall; thereafter, it grew tame and attached, not fearing humans or animals, perching at the door of his room or upon his bed, crying all the more sorrowfully, with blood welling in its eyes. Once Xun passed away, the bird flew up into the sky outside, circled around, and suddenly soared away. Furthermore, a fierce tiger circled the courtyard, roaring sorrowfully for two nights; dark clouds shrouded for three days, and heaven and earth took on a somber gloom. In addition, mountains collapsed, rocks fell, forests were smashed, and ravines were blocked, frightening humans and beasts into roaming anxiously without shelter. These mournful responses and spiritual omens cannot be fully recorded. Later, in the twelfth month of the fifth year of the Wude era, his disciples Jingxiu, Daoyuan, Huifang, and others cremated his remaining remains, erected a stupa, and set up a stele.