集神州三寶感通錄 3.91

3.91

In the early years of the Yuanjia era of the Song dynasty, Liu Ningzhi was in Guangling when he encountered an extraordinary monk who said, 'You are about to fall ill with a morbid air, but you will not die. If you make food worth three hundred cash and feed the monks, you will avert this misfortune.' Ningzhi, having never been reverent or faithful, became even angrier upon hearing this. The monk said, 'Do not be angry; merely show respect, and you will attain blessings.' After taking about twenty paces, the monk suddenly vanished. Seven days later, Ningzhi's illness erupted, bringing him near death. Later, while in the capital, an unknown monk walked straight into his room and asked, 'You have karmic ties to the Dharma; why do you not apply yourself with diligence?' Ningzhi told him what had happened before. The monk said, 'That was Piṇḍola.' Having spoken, it was unknown where he went. In the seventeenth year [of Yuanjia], at the Huifa Vihāra in Guangling, Ningzhi saw banners and canopies suspended in the sky, which dissolved after a long time.