神僧傳 5.6

5.6

Shi Mingda was of the Kang surname, his ancestors being people of the country of Kangju. He renounced household life as a child, strictly observing the fasting precepts; as he came of age to take the full precepts, his practice grew even more rigorous. His flanks never touched the mat, and he never ate twice a day. Outwardly he observed decorum and discipline; inwardly he cultivated the causes of the Way. Holding widespread salvation in his heart, traveling to teach was his pursuit. In the beginning of the Tianjian reign-period of the Liang dynasty, he arrived from the Western Rong in Yi Commandery. At that time, the barbarians of the Ba Gorges were marching brazenly and looting, and the provinces and commanderies levied soldiers, setting a date to exterminate them. Da pitied their impending suffering and, with the intention to rescue them, walked alone to the bandits and mounted their fortress. He comforted and guided them, but they had not yet embraced his counsel. Suddenly, wind and rain darkened the sky, and thunderclaps rattled and struck. The bandits were terrified and sorrowfully begged for mercy. Da then instructed them to prepare a thousand lamps and pray sincerely to the Three Jewels. Just as the preparations were completed, the dark haze cleared at once, mountain and wetland airs harmonized, and heaven and earth grew bright. In complete accord, they looked toward the state and all submitted to the royal transformation. Thus, the river paths were cleared and peaceful, with free transit back and forth. Later, while traveling, he encountered a person on the road tying up a pig on the ground. It spoke in a human voice, saying: 'May the high sage save me!' Da immediately untied his robe, ransomed it, and set it free. Once, in the middle of the night, he asked for water to wash his feet. His disciple did as instructed, but the mud would not come off. Washing again with hot water, it still remained as before. Da then poured water on them himself, and his feet became clean at once. Da said: 'This is fish grease.' None could fathom where it came from. When he reached Mount Niutou in Zizhou, he wished to erect a stūpa and a vihāra. Without inquiring about timber and stone, he sought only craftsmen. Both clergy and laity found his words strange. At that time, in the third month, the river dried up, and he went down to seek timber. There in the water, he obtained a long piece of wood, perfectly suitable for the central pillar of the stūpa; its length was precisely right, and all were delighted. They then hauled it up and erected it. In the fourth month, the Fu River flooded greatly, and drifting logs covered the river; they stopped at the village shore on their own, none drifting past. Da led clergy and laity to gather them all together, piling them up crosswise like mountains. They built halls and constructed a nine-story pagoda; people near and far united their strength to complete the construction at once, and the work was finished abruptly without exceeding the season. He personally wore the three robes, all of coarse cloth; when torn he would patch them, never changing them through winter or summer. Sometimes while in meditation seated on a rope chair, a fire would blaze up; when the assembly went to extinguish it, they only felt cool air. There was a śramaṇa named Sengjiu who had long suffered from crippled limbs and came to beg for healing. Da simply gave him a staff and ordered him to walk; before the shadow shifted, he was striding swiftly back. Furthermore, during the poṣadha, he always sat before the assembly. There was a thief who dug through the wall and carried off goods; once outside, he became confused about direction and returned to the monastery. Da then instructed and dismissed him. In the fifteenth year of the Tianjian reign-period, he accompanied the Prince of Shixing back to Jingzhou, and passed away in Jiangling in the twelfth month of winter.