法苑珠林 21.46

21.46

宋袁炳字叔煥。陳郡人也。泰始末為臨湘令。亡後積年。友人司馬遜於將曉間。如夢見炳來陳敘闊別訊問安否。既而謂遜曰。吾等平生立意置論。常言生為馳役死為休息。今日始知定不然矣。恒患在世有人務馳求金幣共相贈遺。幽途此事亦復如之。遜問。罪福應報定實何如。炳曰。如我舊見。與經教所說不盡符同。將是聖人抑引之談耳。如今所見。善惡大科略不異也。然殺生故最為重禁。慎不可犯也。遜曰。卿此徵相示。良不可言。當以語白尚書也。炳曰。甚善。亦請卿敬情尚書時。司空簡穆王公為吏部尚書。炳遜並其游賓。故及之。往反可數百語辭去。遜曰。闊別之久常思敘集。相值甚難何不小住。炳曰。止暫來耳。不可得久留。且此輩語亦不容得委悉。於是而去。初炳來闇夜。遜亦了不覺所以。而明得覩見。炳既去遜下床送之。始躡屐而還闇。見炳脚間有光可尺許。亦得照其兩足。餘地猶皆闇云（此一驗出冥祥記）。

Yuan Bing of the Song, styled Shuhuan, was a man of Chen Commandery. Toward the end of the Taishe era he served as Magistrate of Linxiang. Years after his death, around dawn, his friend Sima Xun seemed to see Bing arrive in a dream, recounting their long separation and inquiring about his wellbeing. Bing then said to Xun, "In life we established ideas and set up arguments, constantly saying that life is toiling and death is resting. Only today do I realize that it is definitely not so. One always worries in the world that people pursue gold and silk to give to one another; on the nether paths it is also just the same." Xun asked, "What are the karmic retributions of transgression and merit really like?" Bing said, "According to my former view, they did not entirely tally with what the scriptural teachings say; that was probably just the sages' speech to restrain and guide. According to what I see now, the broad categories of good and evil are practically no different. Yet killing living beings is still the gravest prohibition; take care never to transgress it." Xun said, "This evidence you show me is truly beyond words. I shall inform the Minister of this." Bing said, "Very good. Please also convey my regards to the Minister." At that time Duke Wang, Sikong Jianmu, was Minister of Personnel; both Bing and Xun were his guests, which is why he mentioned him. After exchanging several hundred words, he took his leave. Xun said, "We have been separated so long and I always think of our gatherings. It is very hard to meet; why not stay a while?" Bing said, "I have only come briefly; I cannot stay long. Furthermore, words of this sort do not permit going into details." Thereupon he departed. When Bing first arrived, it was dark night, and Xun had not realized why, but was able to see clearly. After Bing left, Xun got out of bed to see him off. Just as he stepped into his clogs, darkness returned. He saw light of about a foot between Bing's feet, which also illuminated both of his feet, while the rest of the ground was still completely dark. (This one verification comes from the Mingxiang ji.)