法苑珠林 62.83

62.83

梁州招提寺有沙門名琰。年幼出家。初作沙彌時。有一相師。善能占相。語琰師。阿師子雖大聰明智慧鋒銳。然命短壽不經旬日。琰師既聞斯語。遂請諸大德共相平論。作何福勝得命延長。大德答云。依佛聖教受持金剛般若經。功德最大。若能善持必得益壽。琰師奉命入山結志。身心受持般若經。餘五年既見延年。後因出山更見相師。相師驚怪。便語琰師云。比來修何功德得壽命長。琰師具述前意。故得如是。相師歎之助喜無已。琰師於後學問優長。善弘經論匡究佛法。為大德住持。年逾九十。命卒於寺。

At the Zhaoti Temple in Liangzhou, there was a śramaṇa named Shi Yan. He left home while young. When he was first a novice monk, there was a physiognomist who was skilled in divination and fortune-telling. He said to Master Shi Yan, 'Although you, Master, are exceptionally clever and possess sharp wisdom, your lifespan is short and will not exceed ten days.' Having heard these words, Master Shi Yan invited various venerable elders to discuss together what supreme merit could be performed to extend his life. The venerable elders replied, 'According to the Buddha's holy teachings, upholding the Diamond Prajñā Sūtra produces the greatest merit. If you can uphold it well, you will certainly gain an increased lifespan.' Master Shi Yan accepted the instruction, entered the mountains, and made a firm resolution. In body and mind, he upheld the Prajñā Sūtra. For the remaining five years, he indeed saw his life prolonged. Later, when he left the mountains, he met the physiognomist again. The physiognomist was astonished and said to Master Shi Yan, 'What merit have you cultivated recently that you have obtained such a long lifespan?' Master Shi Yan fully recounted his previous intention, which had brought about this result. The physiognomist praised him and rejoiced with him incessantly. Later, Master Shi Yan excelled in scholarship, skillfully propagating the sūtras and treatises, thoroughly examining the Buddha's Dharma, and became a venerable elder who maintained the Dharma. He lived beyond ninety years of age and passed away in the temple.