弘贊法華傳 5.17

5.17

釋會通。雍州萬年御宿川人。少欣道撿。遊泊林泉。苦節戒行。是其顧習。投終南豹林谷。潛隱綜業。讀法花經。至藥王品。便欣厭捨。私集柴木。誓必行之。以貞觀末年靜夜。林中積薪為窟。誦至藥王。便令下火。風驚焰發。煙火俱盛。卓爾加坐。誦聲如故。尋見西南。有大白光。流入火聚。身方偃仆。至曉。身火俱滅。乃收其遺骨。為起白塔。勒銘存焉。

Shi Huitong was a native of Yushuchuan in Wannian of Yongzhou. In his youth, he took delight in the discipline of the Way and roamed among forests and springs; ascetic practices and precepts were what he held dear. He went to the Baolin Valley on Mount Zhongnan, living in seclusion and pursuing his studies. He read the Lotus Sūtra, and when he reached the "Bhaiṣajyarāja Chapter," he rejoiced in renouncing his body. Secretly accumulating firewood, he vowed that he would carry it out. On a quiet night in the late years of the Zhenguan era, he piled up wood in the forest to make a cave-like pyre. Reciting up to the "Bhaiṣajyarāja Chapter," he ordered the fire to be set. The wind stirred and the flames burst forth, smoke and fire both blazing vigorously. Seated tall and upright, his reciting voice continued as before. Soon after, toward the southwest, a great white light was seen flowing into the mass of fire, and only then did his body fall over. By dawn, both body and fire were entirely extinguished. They thereupon collected his remaining bones, built a white stūpa for him, and carved an inscription to preserve his memory.