法苑珠林 42.73

42.73

晉司空廬江何充字次道。弱而信法心業甚精。常於齋堂置一空座。筵帳精華絡以珠寶。設之積年庶降神異。後大會道俗甚盛。坐次一僧。容服麁垢神情低陋。出自眾中徑昇其坐。拱默而已無所言說。一堂怪駭。謂其謬僻。充亦不悅嫌於顏色。及行中食此僧飯於高座。飯畢提鉢出堂。顧謂充曰。何俟勞精進。因擲鉢空中陵虛而去。充及道俗馳遽觀之。光儀偉麗。極目乃沒。追共惋恨。稽懺累日。

The Jin Minister of Works, He Chong of Lujiang, courtesy name Cidao, had faith in the Dharma from his youth, and his cultivation of mind was exceedingly refined. In the fasting hall he constantly placed an empty seat, with exquisite mats and curtains laced with pearls and jewels, set up for years in hopes of invoking divine anomalies. Later, at a great assembly of monastics and laypeople of grand proportions, there was a monk among the seating rows whose appearance and clothes were coarse and filthy, and whose bearing was low and vulgar. Stepping out from the assembly, he went straight up to the seat, sitting in folded-arm silence without uttering a word. The entire hall was shocked and bewildered, assuming he was errant and perverse. Chong was also displeased, his resentment showing on his face. When the midday meal was distributed, this monk ate upon the elevated seat. Having finished eating, he took his bowl and exited the hall. Looking back, he said to Chong: "Why trouble yourself with diligence?" Thereupon he threw his bowl into the air and ascended into the void, departing. Chong, monastics, and laypeople ran swiftly to look: his radiant demeanor was magnificent, vanishing only at the limits of sight. Filled with shared remorse, they prostrated in repentance for days on end.