集神州三寶感通錄 3.33

3.33

Toward the end of the Later Wei, there was the monk Zhizhan of Qizhou, who lived in Xiancao Temple in a deep ravine of Rentou Mountain, north of Mount Tai. He simplified his affairs, spoke little, and birds were not startled when he entered among them. He read and recited the Lotus Sūtra, but people could not fathom his inner practice. When he was about to die, the divine monk Baozhi said to Emperor Wu of the Liang: 'The srotāpanna holy monk of Xiancao Temple in the north will enter extinction today.' When Zhan died, he passed away without distress, each hand extending one finger. An Indian monk said: 'This is the first fruit.' He was subsequently buried on this mountain. Later, when they opened [the grave] to look, only his tongue remained as before. Thereupon they erected a stūpa to mark it. Today the stūpa still stands, and birds and beasts dare not trample upon it.