續集古今佛道論衡 1.40

1.40

The Emperor addressed the Daoist masters, saying, "Venerables, you wished to test [your arts]; now is precisely the time. First manifest what you are capable of to display to the great assembly." The Daoist masters received the imperial order and immediately heaped firewood and reeds mixed with sandalwood, eaglewood, and other fragrant woods around the scriptures on the western altar. They then offered an invocation, weeping and shedding tears, saying, "The scriptures of the Taishang Celestial Worthy unfolded together with creation itself. Past sages and present worthies have practiced them without abandoning them. Now, an alien teaching from the Western Regions has entered to throw the customs of the Hua into confusion. We, Zhu Shanxin and others from the abbeys of the various peaks of the Five Sacred Peaks, 690 people in all, dare to place our scriptures upon the altar to test them by fire, wishing thereby to enlighten sentient beings and distinguish the true from the false. We prostrate ourselves wishing that the Supreme Compassion will manifest divine efficacy!" Thereupon they set fire to burn the scriptures, but the scriptures transformed along with the flames and all turned to ash. Seeing the fire consume the scriptures, the Daoist masters were greatly astonished and dismayed. Those who previously could ascend to heaven could no longer ascend; those who previously could become invisible could no longer conceal their forms; those who previously could enter fire dared not enter it again; those who previously excelled in binding spells called upon their spirits without response; and of all those who previously possessed various powers, when they exercised them, not a single one proved effective. The Daoist masters felt deep shame and remorse.