弘贊法華傳 5.12

5.12

Shi Fachong, surnamed Bi, was a native of Jiujiang. He constantly recited the Lotus Sūtra, the number of times beyond reckoning. In addition, he repaired and built monastery buildings, with his heart devoted to maintaining the Dharma. In his later years, he resided at Huacheng Monastery halfway up Mount Lu to practice meditation. Unless on monastic business, he never took a step outside. He constantly urged the assembly of monks: "Do not let women enter the monastery. Above, this harms the Buddha's teachings; below, it gives rise to vulgar gossip." However, because worldly people considered material foundations of major importance, some did not comply. Chong sighed, saying: "Not encountering a buddha in this life is already the consequence of past transgressions. When the correct teaching is not practiced, it is right that one should die early. Why worry that men of the world will not keep the precepts?" He thereupon threw himself down from the Incense Burner Peak of this mountain, vowing to pulverize his flesh and bones so that he might be born in the Pure Land. In mid-air, his head suddenly turned upwards, and he floated gently downward, coming to rest in the deep valley without harming a single hair. The monastic assembly initially knew nothing of it. Later, someone ascended the mountain peak and looked down the path, more than a thousand fathoms deep. Hearing a human voice, he followed the sound to search for it, and it was indeed Chong. His life was still intact, and he was reciting as before. They welcomed him back to the monastery. The monks, moved by his admonition unto death, barred women [from the monastery]. Six years later, he finally passed away. The weather was at the height of summer heat, yet his corpse did not putrefy or smell foul. This was at the end of the Kaihuang reign era of the Sui.