法苑珠林 39.31

39.31

子午關南第一驛名三交。驛東有㵎。東南坡數十頃。是栗樹。素不知有僧住。屢聞鍾聲不以為奇。一時驛家婦女採樵入㵎。忽值一僧。獨坐石上縫衣。傍無一物。此女有信心。白曰。不知師在此日時欲至。向驛食來。僧云。貧道山居不得食。驛家官食。女曰。自有私食足以供養。僧曰。信心人食亦不可得。女恐時過馳走取食。及來尋之不見其迹。由是常令家人左近追之。永不可值。而有鍾聲。此寺去驛五里。

The first relay station south of Ziwu Pass is named Sanjiao. East of the station is a ravine, and the southeastern slope of several tens of qing is covered with chestnut trees. People were completely unaware that monks lived there, and though they repeatedly heard the sound of a bell, they did not think it extraordinary. Once, a woman of the station household went into the ravine to gather firewood and suddenly encountered a monk sitting alone on a rock, sewing robes, with nothing around him. This woman, having faith, addressed him: "I did not know the Master was here. The time [for noon meal] is near; I shall go to the station to bring food." The monk said: "A poor monk dwelling in the mountains cannot eat the government food of a station household." The woman said: "I have my own private food, sufficient to make an offering." The monk said: "The food of a person of faith is also not to be obtained." Fearing the time would pass, the woman ran hastily to get the food, but when she came to seek him, no trace of him was to be seen. From then on, she often had her family members search the vicinity, but they could never meet him again, though the bell sound remained. This temple was five li from the station.