法苑珠林 14.48

14.48

皇帝聞喜勅給驛馬內使及弟子官佐二十餘人在處供給。諸官人弟子等並乘官馬。唯長年一人少小已來。精誠苦行不乘雜畜。既到代州清涼山。即肘行膝步而上至中臺佛堂。即是文殊廟堂。從下至上可行三十餘里。山石勁利入肉到骨。無血乳出至于七日。五體投地布面在土。不起不食。七日滿已忽起踊躍。指揮四方上下空界。具見文殊師利菩薩聖僧羅漢。從者道俗數十人。有見不見。復有一蟒蛇身數里。從北而來直向長年。長年見喜銜師脚過。變為僧形。諸人怕懼皆悉四散。唯長年一人心不驚動。種種靈應不可具述。所請遂願還返京都。今現化度安置。或請內受戒。或巡歷諸山。

The Emperor, hearing of it with delight, issued an edict to provide post horses, palace attendants, and over twenty disciples and official aides to supply provisions wherever he went. The officials and disciples all rode official horses; only the Venerable Changnian alone, ever since his youth, practiced sincere asceticism and did not ride on any animals. Once he arrived at Mount Qingliang in Daizhou, he proceeded upward by crawling on elbows and knees until he reached the Buddha Hall on the Central Terrace, which is the shrine hall of Mañjuśrī. The distance from bottom to top was about thirty li; the mountain stones were sharp and cut through the flesh to the bone, yet there was no blood, only milk issuing forth for seven days. He threw his five limbs to the ground, laying his face against the earth, neither rising nor eating. When the seven days were complete, he suddenly leaped up with joy, gesturing toward the four quarters and the space above and below, seeing fully Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva, holy monks, and arhats. Among the several dozen monastics and lay followers accompanying him, some saw and some did not. There was also a python several li in length that came from the north, heading straight toward the Venerable Changnian. Seeing it with joy, the snake held the master's foot in its mouth, passed over it, and transformed into the form of a monk. The others were terrified and scattered in all directions; only the Venerable Changnian alone was not shaken in mind. The various miraculous responses were such that they cannot be fully recounted. Having fulfilled what he requested, he returned to the capital. At present he is converting and dwelling [there], being invited inside [the palace] to bestow precepts, or touring through various mountains."