神僧傳 6.10

6.10

Shi Famin, whose lay surname was Sun, was a native of Danyang. At eight years old, he renounced household life, becoming a disciple of Dhyāna Master Ying. He entered Mount Mao, listening to Dharma Master Ming's Three Treatises and awakening to their essential tenets. In the first year of the Zhenguan era, he went forth and returned to Danyang, expounding the Avataṃsaka and Nirvāṇa [Sūtras]. In the second year, Commander-in-Chief Tian of Yuezhou invited him to return to Yiyin Monastery to continue [turning] the Wheel of Dharma. At that time, a great crowd gathered: over eight hundred śramaṇas of doctrinal study from more than seventy prefectures, one thousand two hundred local monks, three hundred nuns, while the assembly of gentry and laity could not even be recorded. By the nineteenth year, the gentry and laity of Kuaiji invited him to dwell at Jinglin to expound the Avataṃsaka-sūtra. At the end of the sixth month, right in the midst of his lecturing, there was a snake with half its body suspended over Min’s neck, some seven feet in length, golden in color, emitting five-colored light, which concealed itself only when the lecture concluded. When the summer ended, he returned to Yiyin Monastery. At night, two men in crimson garments bowed to Min and said: “Dharma Master, the merits of expounding the four great sūtras are beyond measure; you must go to other realms to teach and transform. Therefore we have come from the east to welcome the Dharma Master.” Several tens of disciples all saw this sign. By the seventeenth day of the eighth month, for three days and three nights prior, there had been uncaused darkness. Exactly on the twenty-third day, when he was about to pass away, a great light suddenly emanated, illuminating the night like the sun. Thereupon he transformed. His age was sixty-seven, and his height was seven feet six inches. His body lay in state for seven days; light emanated from the surface of his stupa, the earth shook, and an extraordinary fragrance did not disperse. None failed to marvel and sigh. Monks and laity made solemn preparations and sent him off to Mount Long'an.