法苑珠林 18.14

18.14

At the end of the Latter Wei, there was the monk Zhizhan of Qizhou. He resided at Xiancao Temple in a deep ravine of Rentou Mountain, north of Mount Tai. He simplified his affairs and spoke little; neither people nor birds disturbed him. He read and recited the Lotus Sūtra, and people could not fathom his former karma. When he was about to pass away, the divine monk Baozhi said to Emperor Wu of the Liang: "Today, the srotāpanna holy monk of Xiancao Temple in the north enters extinction." At Zhan's passing, he transformed without affliction. On each of his two hands, he extended one finger. An Indian monk said: "This was a person of the first fruit." He was brought back and buried in the mountains. Later, when they opened the tomb to inspect it, only his tongue remained as before. Thereupon they erected a stupa to commemorate it; the stupa still exists today. Birds and beasts dare not trample or defile it.