法苑珠林 90.57

90.57

隋東川釋慧曇。不知何許人。辯聰令逸大小通明。住寶明寺襟帶眾經。以四月十五日。臨說戒時。僧並集堂。曇居上首。乃白眾曰。戒本防非人人誦得。何勞徒眾數數聞之。可令一僧竪義令後生開寤。曇氣岸風格。當時無敢抗者。咸順從之。訖於後夏末常廢說戒。至七月十五日。將升草座。失曇所在。大眾以新歲未受。交廢自恣。一時崩騰。四出追覓。乃於寺側三里許於古塚間得之。遍體血流如刀割處。借問其故。云有一丈夫執三尺大刀。勵色瞋曇改變布薩妄充竪義刀膾身形。痛毒難忍。因接還寺。竭情懺悔。乃經十載。說戒布薩。讀誦眾經。以為常業。臨終之日。異香迎之。神色無亂。欣然而卒。咸嘉徵祥。即世懲革（右此一驗出唐高僧傳）。

Śramaṇa Shi Huitan of Dongchuan in the Sui was a man of unknown origins. Highly eloquent and intelligent, he had a clear and comprehensive understanding of both the Great and Small [Vehicles]. He resided at Baoming Temple, keeping all the scriptures close to his heart. On the fifteenth day of the fourth month, when it was time to recite the precepts, the monastic community all assembled in the hall, with Huitan presiding as the leader. He then addressed the assembly, saying: 'The precepts were fundamentally meant to guard against wrongdoing, and everyone can recite them. Why trouble the congregation to hear them over and over again? We should have a single monk establish a doctrinal thesis so that the younger generation may be enlightened.' Huitan had such an imposing manner and character that at the time no one dared oppose him; all complied with him. Up until the end of the second summer [retreat], the recitation of the precepts was regularly suspended. On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when they were about to ascend the grass seat, Huitan went missing. Because the community had not yet received the new year [of seniority] and had neglected the invitation ceremony (pravāraṇā), they were thrown into sudden confusion and went out in all four directions to search for him. They finally found him about three li beside the temple amidst some ancient tombs. Blood was flowing over his entire body as if sliced by knives. When asked the reason, he said: 'A man holding a three-foot-long great sword, with a stern and angry expression, was enraged that I had altered the poṣadha and falsely substituted it with the establishment of doctrinal theses, and he sliced my body with the sword. The pain and poison were unbearable.' They then helped him back to the temple, where he repented with all his heart. For ten years thereafter, he made reciting the precepts, holding the poṣadha, and chanting the various scriptures his constant practice. On the day of his death, an extraordinary fragrance welcomed him; his countenance was undisturbed, and he passed away joyfully. All praised the auspicious sign, and the world was thereby chastened and reformed. (The one miracle above is taken from the Tang Gaoseng zhuan.)