釋門自鏡錄 1.59

1.59

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.