法苑珠林 91.52

91.52

晉孫稚字法暉。齊國般陽縣人也。父祚晉太中大夫。稚幼而奉法。年十八以咸康元年八月病亡。祚後移居武昌。至三年四月八日。沙門于法階。行尊像經家門。夫妻大小出觀見。稚亦在人眾之中。隨侍像行。見父母。拜跪問訊隨共還家。祚先病稚云。無他禍祟。不自將護所致耳。五月當差。言畢辭去。其年七月十五日。復歸跪拜問訊。悉如生時。說其外祖父為太山府君。見稚說稚母字曰。汝是某甲兒耶。未應便來。那得至此。稚答。伯父將來欲以代謫有教推問欲鞭罰之。稚救解得原。稚兄容字思淵。時在其側。稚謂曰。雖離故形在優樂處。但讀書無他作願。兄勿復憂也。但勤精進繫念修善。福自隨人矣。我二年學成當生國王家。同輩有五百人。今在福堂。學成皆當上生第六天上。我本亦應上生。但以解救先人因緣纏縛故。獨生王家耳。到五年七月七日復歸說。邾城當有寇難。事例甚多。悉皆如言。家人祕之。故無傳者。又云。先人多有罪謫。宜為作福。我今受身人中。不須復營。但救先人也。願父兄勤為功德作福。食時務使鮮潔。一一如法者受上福。次者次福。若不能然徒費設耳。當使平等心無彼我。其福乃多。祚時有婢。稚未還時。忽病殆死。通身皆痛。稚云。此婢欲叛。我前與鞭。不復得去耳。稚問婢云。前實欲叛與人為期。日垂至而便住。云云。

During the Jin dynasty, Sun Zhi, courtesy name Fahui, was a native of Banyang County in Qi Commandery. His father, Zuo, was a Grand Master of the Palace under the Jin. Zhi venerated the Dharma from his youth. At the age of eighteen, in the eighth month of the first year of Xiankang, he died of illness. Zuo later moved his residence to Wuchang. On the eighth day of the fourth month of the third year, the śramaṇa Yu Fajie was parading a venerable statue past their family gate. The entire household, both elders and youngsters, went out to view it. Zhi was also among the crowd, following and attending the procession of the statue. Seeing his parents, he bowed, knelt, and inquired after their wellbeing, and then followed them home together. Zuo had already been ill, and Zhi said, “There is no otherworldly misfortune or haunting; it is merely caused by failing to care for yourself properly. You will recover in the fifth month.” Having finished speaking, he took his leave and departed. On the fifteenth day of the seventh month of that year, he returned again, kneeling, bowing, and inquiring after their wellbeing, entirely as when he was alive. He related that his maternal grandfather had become the Lord of Mount Tai. Seeing Zhi, [the Lord] called Zhi’s mother by name, saying, “Are you so-and-so’s child? You should not have come yet; how did you manage to arrive here?” Zhi answered, “My paternal uncle brought me here wishing to have me take his place in banishment [to punishment].” There was an order to investigate and interrogate him with the intent to flog and punish him, but Zhi rescued and exonerated him so that he obtained a pardon. Zhi’s elder brother Rong, courtesy name Siyuan, was then at his side. Zhi said to him, “Although I have left behind my former physical form, I reside in a place of superior joy. I only read books and have no other wishes. Brother, do not grieve any longer! Merely be diligent and vigorous, focus your mindfulness on cultivating goodness, and blessings will naturally accompany you. In two years, when my studies are complete, I am destined to be born into the family of a king. There are five hundred people of my cohort, presently in the Hall of Blessings; when their studies are complete, they will all be born above in the Sixth Heaven. Originally, I was also destined to be born above, but solely because of untangling and rescuing the entanglements of my ancestors’ causes and conditions, I alone will be born into a royal house.” On the seventh day of the seventh month of the fifth year, he returned again and stated, “Zhu City will surely suffer an invasion by bandits.” There were very many such matters, and all turned out as he had spoken. His family kept it secret, and therefore it was not transmitted to others. He also said, “Our ancestors have many sins and punishments; you ought to create blessings on their behalf. I have now received a body among humans and have no need for further arrangements; simply rescue our ancestors. It is my wish that my father and brother diligently perform meritorious deeds to create blessings. At meal times, you must ensure everything is fresh and pure. Those that are entirely in accordance with the Dharma will receive superior blessings; those that are secondary will receive secondary blessings. If you cannot act thus, it will merely be a wasted expenditure. You must bring about an impartial mind devoid of self and other; only then will the blessings be abundant.” At that time, Zuo had a female servant. Before Zhi had returned, she suddenly fell ill and was near death, aching all over her body. Zhi said, “This servant intended to run away, so earlier I gave her a flogging; she can no longer get away.” Zhi questioned the servant, who said, “Earlier, I truly intended to run away and had made an appointment with someone. As the day was close at hand, I then stopped,” and so forth.