法苑珠林 21.47

21.47

Shi Daoxian of the Zhulin Temple on Mount Guankou in the Shu region under the Sui was originally a native of Kangju. He worked as an itinerant merchant, traveling between Wu and Shu, accumulating jewels and treasures worth nearly one hundred thousand strings of cash. Later he arrived at Mount Niutou in Zizhou, where he met a monk preaching the Dharma. Deeply awakening to the encumbrance of wealth, he sank it into the river and abandoned it all at once. Thereupon he went to Zhulin Temple on Mount Guankou to enter the monastic order. On the day his hair was first shorn, he swore before the assembly: "If I do not attain the Path, I vow never to leave the mountain." Keeping his resolve aloof from the multitude, he dwelt in the wild like beasts and birds. When entering samādhi, one sitting lasted five days as his term. When guests arrived at the gate, their secret approach was immediately sensed; he would rise to receive and converse with them. When there were no people, he sat upright in his quiet room, tranquil as empty space. At times he foretold: "Tomorrow guests will arrive, their number so-and-so, their appearances and clothing colours such-and-such." Right on time the next day they would arrive, their number and clothing matching exactly. At that time there was a severe drought. The common people were terrified, turning pale with worry over their crops; all came to request him to pray for rain. Daoxian went to the dragon cave and knocked on the door with his staff, shouting, "Sentient beings, why indulge in sleep?" As he spoke, it immediately woke. Thereupon dark clouds gathered from all four quarters, and torrential rain fell everywhere. The people relied on this beneficence; noble and base alike offered thanks and revered him as a heavenly deity. Prince Xiu of Shu under the Sui was stationed at Minluo. Having heard of him, the Prince soon dispatched a summons, but Daoxian did not obey the order at all. The Prince's countenance flushed with rage, and he personally led armed soldiers to go and seize him, intending to put him to the sword if he persistently disobeyed. Hearing that the soldiers had arrived, Daoxian acted as if no one were there; donning his saṃghāṭī, he sat upright in meditation and chanted. When the Prince reached the foot of the mountain, rain suddenly poured down mingled with hail, snow, thunder, and lightning, and floods welled up, filling the valley in an instant. The army had no recourse and all feared losing their lives. In this desperate extremity, they repented and took refuge, bowing from afar to Daoxian's virtue. The overhanging clouds suddenly dispersed, the mountain path became clear and smooth, and they reached Daoxian's place. The Prince personally paid the utmost respect, single-mindedly taking refuge and repenting. Daoxian preached the Dharma for him, renewing his faith. The Prince then earnestly requested and invited him back to Chengdu. When he arrived at Jingzhong Temple, he was treated with ever more generous etiquette. The whole city revered him, calling him Master Daoxian. In the Renshou era, he returned to the mountain temple and died, being buried there. (This one verification comes from the Tang Gaoseng zhuan.)