法苑珠林 40.20

40.20

漢法內傳云。明帝既弘佛法。立寺度僧。五岳山館諸道士等。請求捔試釋老優劣。道經以火試焚。隨火消燼。道士眾首費才愧恥自憾眾前而死。張衍啟寤競共出家。于時西域所將舍利。五粒五色。直上空中。旋環如蓋。映蔽日光。摩騰羅漢踊身高飛。居空如地履地如空。神化自在為眾說法。天雨寶華散佛僧上。天樂異音大眾同聞。度人無量。

The Han faneizhuan says: After Emperor Ming promoted the Buddha's Dharma, erected temples, and ordained monks, the various Daoist masters of the lodges on the Five Sacred Peaks requested a contest to test the superiority of Śākya and Laozi. The Daoist scriptures were tested by burning them with fire, and they were reduced to ashes along with the flames. Fei Cai, the leader of the Daoist masters, was ashamed and chagrined, and died before the assembly. Zhang Yan was awakened to understanding, and they competed to leave the household life together. At that time, the five śarīra of five colours brought from the Western Regions ascended straight into the sky, revolving in a circle like a canopy and eclipsing the sunlight. The arhat [Kāśyapa] Mātaṅga leapt high into flight, dwelling in the air as if on the ground and walking on the ground as if through empty space, exercising supernormal transformations at will and preaching the Dharma to the assembly. The heavens rained down precious flowers, scattering them over the Buddha and the Saṃgha. Heavenly music of extraordinary tones was heard together by the great assembly, and innumerable people were liberated.