法苑珠林 95.45

95.45

晉沙門康法朗。學於中山。永嘉中與一比丘。西入天竺。行過流沙。千有餘里。見道邊敗壞佛圖。無復堂殿。蓬蒿沒人。法朗等下瞻禮拜。見有二僧。僧各居其傍。一人讀經。一人患痢。穢污盈房。其讀經者了不營視。朗等惻然興念。留為煮粥掃除澣濯。至六日病者稍困注痢如泉。朗等共料理之。其夜朗等並謂病者必不移旦。至明晨往視。容色光悅痛狀休然。屋中穢物皆是華馨。朗等乃寤是得道真士以試人也。病者曰。隔房比丘是我和尚。久得道慧。可往禮覲。法朗等先嫌讀經沙門無慈愛心。聞已乃作禮悔過。讀經者曰。諸君誠契并至。同當入道。朗公宿學業淺。此世未得願也。謂朗伴云。慧此若植根深當現世得願。因而留之。法朗後還中山為大法師。道俗宗之（右此一驗出冥祥記）。

During the Jin, the śramaṇa Kang Falang studied in Zhongshan. During the Yongjia era, he and a bhikṣu traveled west into India. Crossing the shifting sands for over a thousand li, they saw a ruined Buddhist stūpa by the road, with no remaining halls, overgrown with weeds taller than a man. Falang and his companion went down to pay homage. They saw two monks, each residing on one side: one was reading sūtras, while the other was suffering from dysentery, his room filled with filth. The one reading sūtras paid no attention at all. Falang and his companion felt deep compassion; they stayed behind to cook congee, sweep, and wash for him. On the sixth day, the sick monk grew increasingly exhausted, with dysentery pouring like a spring. Falang and his companion attended to him together. That night, Falang and the others thought the patient would surely not survive till dawn. When they went to check the next morning, his complexion was radiant and joyful, and the symptoms of pain were completely gone. The filth in the room had all turned into fragrant flowers. Falang and his companion then realized he was an accomplished being of the Way who was testing people. The sick monk said: 'The bhikṣu in the adjoining room is my upādhyāya; he long ago attained the wisdom of the Way. You may go pay respects to him.' Falang and his companion had previously resented the sūtra-reading śramaṇa for lacking loving-kindness; hearing this, they bowed and repented their fault. The sūtra-reader said: 'Your sincere resolve has arrived together; you are both destined to enter the Way. Master Lang, your past learning is shallow in karmic roots; you will not attain your vow in this life.' Addressing Falang's companion, he said: 'Hui, your roots are deeply planted; you will attain your vow in this very life.' He therefore retained him. Falang later returned to Zhongshan and became a great Dharma master, revered by both monastics and laypeople. (This verification is from the Mingxiang ji.)