神僧傳 7.12

7.12

Shi Chuji. His secular surname was Zhou. He was a native of Shu. He served Chan Master Baoxiu as his teacher. He served diligently, had few desires, and did not contend with external things. He was thoroughly versed in the profound mysteries. The Empress, hearing of this, summoned him to enter the palace and bestowed upon him a patch-robe saṅghāṭī. He declined and begged to return to the mountains. For forty years, his feet did not enter human settlements. He sat on a single barbarian couch in quietude and meditated without sleeping. There was often a tiger crouching beneath his seat, like a domestic beast. He was held in high esteem by the people of Zi[zhou], and those who studied his way flocked together. Because of this, extraordinary events frequently manifested. For instance, when Master Wuxiang was about to arrive from the kingdom of Silla to pay respects to Chan Master Shen, Ji warned the assembly in advance, saying, 'A guest from outside will be seen tomorrow; you should sprinkle and sweep [the grounds] to await him.' The next day, a guest from the Eastern Sea indeed arrived. At the beginning of the Kaiyuan era, the newly appointed Governor Wang Ye assumed office and issued an order instructing that all śramaṇas within the prefecture should be summoned and assembled. Only Ji had not descended from the mountain for a long time. Someone urged Ji to go and visit to avoid creating trouble. Ji said to his disciples, 'Although you have renounced household life, you still do not recognize karma. As long as I am not dead, what can Wang Ye do to me?' When Ye had been in office for three days, the monkhood had all arrived. Someone said, 'Only Chuji disdains the regional prince and has not come to offer congratulations.' Ye was slightly angered. He summoned the monks to go up to the hall and be seated, and was about to unleash his anger to interrogate them concerning the reason for Ji's non-compliance. His furious expression flared, and the monks all trembled with fear. Suddenly, Ye collapsed to the ground, and his attendants supported him by the armpits. Returning home to the main hall, sounds like the slapping of cheeks came from behind the screen. Shortly after, his breath ceased. Ji was eighty-seven years old when he manifested cessation in Zizhong. To this day he is revered. Yuangui.