弘贊法華傳 5.8

5.8

Shi Sengming—his original clan and surname are not clear. His observance of the monastic precepts was pure and spotless, and he took dhūta austerities as his vocation. He resided at Mount Shimen in Zhaoyi County, Haozhou. On a rock at the summit of the mountain, he piled bricks to build a Maitreya heavenly palace and an image of Maitreya. He constantly recited the Lotus Sūtra, searching deeply for its wondrous import. Whenever he recited, he would hear finger-snappings in the sky and the praise 'Excellent!'. During the Tianjian era (502–519), he submitted a memorial to Emperor Wu of Liang requesting permission to burn his body. Only after repeated requests was he granted permission. He then fulfilled his prior aspiration on a square stone in front of the Maitreya Palace. His entire body turned to ashes, leaving only a single fingernail. After the burning, the stone, four or five feet square, suddenly sank down and formed a pool. Within two nights, flowers blossomed, their fresh splendor unmatched in their era. Those who drank from this pool were all cured of illnesses. Later people took the ashes from the burning to make a sculpted image of him, and also made a small wooden image, burned this fingernail once more, and smeared the ashes upon it. If someone polluted it, the image would move away. At the place where he had practiced walking meditation, flowers sprouted everywhere, as large as pears and jujubes, numbering in the hundreds and thousands. A memorial stūpa stands there today, recording this affair in full detail (and so forth).