釋門自鏡錄 1.26

1.26

Sili's family name is not known; he was a native of Lantian in Yongzhou. By nature he was mediocre and shallow, his ambitions set only on illicit gain. Although clad in black robes, he was not imbued with the true transformation. During the Xianheng era, he observed the summer retreat at Wuzhen Monastery in Langu. At that time, the assembly numbered several dozen, mostly refined and disciplined; Li concealed his true nature and masqueraded among them, ever harboring illicit intents. Thereupon he stole the silk from inside an image in the hall. After several days the monks noticed it, but none knew who had stolen it; investigating one another in turn, everyone harbored suspicion, and many felt ashamed and regretful, each wishing to scatter and leave. At that time the elder Fazang spoke to the assembly, saying, "I have heard that this monastery has an abundance of miraculous traces. Now that someone has broken and damaged an image, would the guardian deity of the saṃghārāma remain silent? Within three days, may this matter be revealed so that the monastic assembly may find peace." Having spoken, each returned. While Li was taking a midday nap in his quarters beneath the bell tower, he saw a great white-robed spirit wedge him between the bed and the wall, hanging his head downward and crushing him with a stone. By the following morning, since the monks did not see Li, they went to his room to search for him; his room was bolted tightly, and they could not open it at all. After a night, finding it increasingly strange, they finally chiseled a hole in the door leaves and saw Li precisely wedged beside the bed, with the silk from inside the image folded upon his body. They lifted him out together and placed him outside the door, seeing his face as black as lacquer and his breath obstructed. The monks performed repentance on his behalf; after a long time he revived slightly, confessed his sins and misdeeds, and fled by night, none knowing where he ended up.