法苑珠林 6.71

6.71

宋王胡者。長安人也。叔死數載。元嘉二十三年忽見形。還家責胡。以修謹有闕家事不理。罰胡五杖。傍人及隣里並聞其語及杖聲。又見杖瘢迹。而不覩其形。唯胡猶得親接。叔謂胡曰。吾不應死。神道須吾算諸鬼錄。今大從吏兵恐驚損墟里。故不將進耳。胡亦大見眾鬼紛鬧若村外。俄然叔辭去曰。吾來年七月七日當復暫還。欲將汝行游歷幽途使知罪福之報也。不須費設。若意不已止可荼來耳。至斯果還。語胡家人云。吾今將胡游觀畢。當使還不足憂也。胡即頓臥床上泯然如盡。叔於是將胡。遍觀群山。備覩鬼怪。未至嵩高山。諸鬼過胡。並有饌設。餘施味不異世中。唯薑甚脆美。胡欲懷將還。左右人笑胡云。止可此食。不得將還也。胡末見一處。屋宇華曠。帳筵精整。有二少僧居焉。胡造之。二僧為設雜菓檳榔等。胡遊歷久之。備見罪福苦樂之報。乃辭歸。叔謂胡曰。汝既已知善之可修。何宜在家。白足阿練。戒行精高可師事也。長安道人足白。故時人謂為白足阿練也。甚為魏虜所敬。虜主事為師。胡既奉此練。於其寺中。遂見嵩山上年少僧者游學眾中。胡大驚與敘乖闊。問何時來。二僧答云貧道本住此寺。往日不憶與君相識。胡復說嵩高之遇。此僧云。君謬耳。豈有此耶。至明日二僧無何而去。胡乃具告諸沙門敘說往日嵩山所見。眾咸驚怪。即追求二僧不知所在。乃悟其神人焉。元嘉末。有長安僧釋曇爽。來游江南。具說如此也。

Wang Hu of the Song was a native of Chang'an. His uncle had been dead for several years. In the twenty-third year of the Yuanjia reign era (446), his uncle suddenly manifested his form, returned home, and reprimanded Hu because his cultivation of prudence was lacking and household affairs were not managed. He punished Hu with five strokes of a cane. Bystanders and neighbors all heard his words and the sound of the cane, and they also saw the marks of the cane, but did not see his form; only Hu could personally interact with him. The uncle said to Hu: “I was not supposed to die; the spirit realm needed me to calculate the registers of the ghosts. Now I am followed by a great host of clerks and soldiers, and fearing they would frighten and harm the village, I did not bring them in.” Hu also saw a large host of ghosts in noisy turmoil as if outside the village. In a moment, the uncle took his leave, saying: “Next year on the seventh day of the seventh month, I shall return again for a while. I wish to take you to travel through the unseen paths to make you know the retribution of sin and merit. You need not make lavish preparations; if you cannot refrain, tea alone will suffice.” When that time arrived, he indeed returned. He said to Hu's family: “I am now taking Hu on an excursion; when it is over, I will send him back, so do not worry.” Hu immediately collapsed onto the bed, lifeless as if dead. The uncle then took Hu to tour all the mountains, witnessing all manner of ghosts and monsters. Before reaching Mount Songgao, various ghosts hosted Hu, all providing banquets. The flavor of the offered food was no different from the worldly realm, except that the ginger was extremely crisp and delicious. Hu wanted to put some in his bosom to bring back, but those around him laughed at Hu and said: “You can only eat it here; you cannot take it back.” Finally, Hu saw a place where the halls were magnificent and spacious, and the curtains and mats were exquisite and tidy. Two young monks resided there. Hu visited them, and the two monks set out assorted fruits, betel nuts, and the like for him. Hu traveled for a long time, fully witnessing the retributions of sin and merit, suffering and joy, and then took his leave to return. The uncle said to Hu: “Since you already know that good deeds can be practiced, why should you remain at home? The White-Footed Hermit (Araṇyaka) is of pure and lofty precept conduct; you may take him as a teacher.” A Chang'an practitioner of the Way had white feet, so people of the time called him the White-Footed Hermit. He was greatly respected by the Wei caitiffs, whose ruler served him as a teacher. After Hu served this hermit, in his temple he unexpectedly saw the young monks from Mount Song studying among the assembly. Hu was greatly astonished, recounted their parting, and asked when they had arrived. The two monks replied: “We have always lived in this temple; we do not recall having known you in the past.” Hu recounted their encounter on Mount Songgao again. The monks said: “You are mistaken; how could such a thing have happened?” The next day, the two monks departed without cause. Hu then told the śramaṇas in detail, recounting what he had seen on Mount Songgao previously. The assembly was all astonished and bewildered, and immediately searched for the two monks, but did not know where they were. They then realized they were divine beings. At the end of the Yuanjia reign era, there was a Chang'an monk, Shi Tanshuan, who traveled south of the Yangtze River and related this in full.