釋門自鏡錄 1.70

1.70

北齊釋僧綱。少以習禪為業。與沙門洪獻同房。獻戒行精著。每感一神。自稱般若。來從受戒。數數談話。綱性多慳。般若取其衣物。輒以施獻。獻告綱終不信。神遂發徹綱房。衣物被案狼藉滿庭。竹扇稱尺並皆摧折數段。神於空中語曰。僧綱不好設齋會供養三寶。我會禍汝未央。綱無奈之何。但恐迫不已。便私費財物營諸齋福。般若曰。既能行福今相放矣。

The monk Senggang of the Northern Qi engaged in the practice of meditation from his youth, sharing a chamber with the śramaṇa Hongxian. Hongxian's moral conduct was pure and prominent. He constantly moved a spirit, who called itself Prajñā, to come and receive the precepts from him and converse with him frequently. Senggang was by nature very stingy. Prajñā would take his clothing and goods and give them to Hongxian. When Hongxian told Senggang, Senggang would never believe him. The spirit then ransacked Senggang's chamber: his clothes, bedding, and desks were strewn in total disarray across the courtyard; his bamboo fans and weighing rulers were all smashed into several pieces. The spirit spoke from mid-air, saying: “Senggang does not like to host vegetarian feasts and make offerings to the Three Jewels. I shall bring disaster upon you without end!” Senggang could do nothing about it, and only out of ceaseless terror did he secretly spend his wealth to arrange various vegetarian feasts of merit. Prajñā said: “Since you can now perform meritorious deeds, I shall release you.”