釋門自鏡錄 1.48

1.48

Daoqi was of the Chen clan and a native of Yingchuan. His countenance was extremely ugly, and his speech and manners were vulgar and uncouth. Although he entered the pure dwelling, his mind was entangled in worldly fetters. However, he was slightly versed in medicine and diagnosis, but took no pleasure in clarifying the Dharma. For this reason, he became known to people of shallow understanding. On this account, he grew boastful and arrogant, slighting both elders and juniors. In the monastery was a monk named Delin, of expansive capacity and great learning, who had a wonderful comprehension of the vinaya while cultivating both concentration and wisdom. Diligent, modest, retired, and serene, his influence spread far and wide. He was of the same age and monastic seniority as Daoqi, but his renown and esteem were eminent. Daoqi despised his prestige and constantly subjected him to slander and abuse. Delin always received this with open humility, speaking modestly and watching his expressions, moistening him with the correct Dharma and guiding him with loving-kindness. Daoqi's inner venom, however, smoldered within, growing more virulent by the day and month. Harboing malice, deceit, and mendacity, he ultimately brought a false accusation against him. At that time, the magistrate of the district, Liu Yi, associated with Daoqi, believed his slanderous words, treated Delin with utter injustice, and by deceitfully contriving the testimony, decreed that Delin be defrocked. Delin, overcome with grief and indignation, carried his kāṣāya atop his head, wept before the assembly, and resolved himself with an inner vow. Thereupon the whole assembly grieved and mourned, all feeling an intensified sense of outrage; those who pointed at Daoqi and muttered private prayers [for justice] were beyond count. After several days, Daoqi was taking a midday nap in his room when he suddenly saw four spirits, a hundred feet tall, each leading an entourage, coming straight before him. One of the spirits, with glaring eyes, said, "I am Vaiśravaṇa, and I have come especially to seize you! How could you harm a good person and bring him to such a state?" He ordered ghost soldiers to strike him down and drag him out upside-down. Daoqi shrieked and screamed at the top of his voice, his cries echoing beyond the neighborhood alleys. The monks rushed in haste to watch and saw Daoqi several feet off the ground, with his head and hands drooping downward, and blood streaming from his ears, eyes, mouth, and nose. Moving slowly through the air as if held by someone, upon reaching the grand thoroughfare outside the monastery gate, he suddenly fell to the ground; his breath ceased, then revived, and having barely managed a few intelligible words, he died. At that time, monastics and laity gathered in a mixed crowd, running to the scene in astonishment and relief; of those who reject the worthy and envy virtue, none failed to reform their sincerity and change their thoughts. Having witnessed the monstrous portent with his own eyes, Magistrate Liu bared his heart and repented of his error. He invited Delin to return to the monastery to expound and propagate the precious teachings. Delin broadly converted and guided those with affinities, copied one hundred sets of the Lotus Sūtra and one thousand scrolls of the Prajñā, and held a feast for ten thousand people to confess and repent on Daoqi's behalf, wishing to dispel his obstruction of enmity.