[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [釋門自鏡錄](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2083) › 1.59 # 釋門自鏡錄 1.59 釋門自鏡錄 1.59 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [1.59](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2083.1.59) 釋法行。本安息國人。與神僧安世高為同學。性多瞋恚。分衛道次施主不稱每輒懟恨。高驟止之。罔有悛心。如此二十餘年。高將別行辭訣。我當往廣州畢宿世之對。卿明經精勤不在吾後。而性多恚怒。命過當受惡形。我若得道必當相度。行既亡便為䢼（居顒切又作宮）亭湖神。高既得道。便往其廟。廟舊有威靈。商旅舟人。特懷敬憚。高與三十餘船奉牲請福。神乃降祝曰。船中有沙門。可更呼上。客還驚愕請高入廟。神告曰。吾昔外國與子俱出家學道。好行布施。而性多瞋恚。今為廟神。周迴千里。並吾所治以布施故珍玩甚豐。以瞋恚故墮此神報。今見同學悲忻可言。壽盡旦夕。而醜形長大若於此捨命穢污江湖。當度山西澤中。此身滅後恐墮地獄。吾有絹千匹。并雜寶物。可為立寺營塔使生善處。高曰。故來相度。何不出形。神曰。形甚醜異眾人必懼。高曰。但出眾不怪也。神從床下出頭。乃是大蟒蛇悲淚如雨。須臾還隱。高即取絹物。辭別而去。舟侶颺帆。蟒出身登山而望。眾人舉手然後乃滅。高達豫章以物造寺。俄而神即命過。報云。得生善處。後人於山西澤中見死蟒。頭尾數丈餘。今潯陽縣有大蛇村是也。 > Shi Faxing was originally a native of the country of Parthia. He was a fellow student of the wonder-working monk An Shigao. By nature, he was prone to wrath. When walking on his alms round, whenever the donors did not meet his expectations, he would constantly harbor resentment and anger. Shigao repeatedly restrained him, but he felt no contrition in his heart. After more than twenty years like this, Shigao was about to take his leave and parted from him, saying, "I must go to Guangzhou to settle an account from a past life. Your understanding of the scriptures and diligence are not inferior to mine, yet you are prone to wrath and anger; when your life ends, you will receive an evil form. If I attain the Way, I will surely come to liberate you." After Faxing died, he became the spirit of Lake Gongting. Once Shigao had attained the Way, he went to his shrine. The shrine had of old possessed awe-inspiring supernatural power; merchants and boatmen regarded it with special reverence and fear. Shigao was with more than thirty boats offering sacrifices to request blessings. The spirit descended through a medium and said, "There is a śramaṇa in the boat; you may call him up here." The travelers returned in astonishment and invited Shigao into the shrine. The spirit addressed him, saying, "Formerly, in a foreign land, I left household life together with you to study the Way. I liked to practice giving, yet by nature was prone to wrath. Now I am the shrine spirit; the territory of a thousand leagues around is all under my governance. Because of giving, precious treasures and curiosities are abundant; because of wrath, I have fallen into this spirit retribution. Seeing my fellow student today, grief and joy can hardly be expressed. My lifespan will end between morning and evening, but my ugly form is vast and large; if I cast off my life here, it will foul the rivers and lakes, so I should cross to the marshes west of the mountain. After this body perishes, I fear I will fall into hell. I have a thousand bolts of silk along with various jewels; you may build a monastery and construct a stūpa for me, so that I may be born in a good place." Shigao said, "I have come especially to liberate you. Why do you not show your form?" The spirit said, "My form is exceedingly hideous; everyone will surely be terrified." Shigao said, "Just come forth; the people will not think it strange." The spirit poked its head out from beneath the bed; it was a huge python, its tears of sorrow falling like rain. Moments later, it concealed itself again. Shigao immediately took the silk and goods, bid farewell, and departed. As the travelers hoisted the sails, the python emerged and climbed the mountain to gaze after them; the people raised their hands, and only then did it disappear. Shigao arrived in Yuzhang and used the goods to build a monastery. Soon after, the spirit died, and a report came saying that it had attained rebirth in a good place. Later, people found a dead python in the marshes west of the mountain, measuring several tens of feet from head to tail. The present Big Snake Village in Xunyang County is the place. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 1.58](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2083.1.58) - [Next: 1.60](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2083.1.60) - [Up: 1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2083.1) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2083~en-mt.1.59) — English, machine translation ## Linked texts (1) - [高僧傳](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2059.1.10) — 慧皎, Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2083.1.59](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2083.1.59) · Pramāṇa