法苑珠林 27.55

27.55

The śramaṇa Shan—also written as Shan—courtesy name Daokai, of the Zhao, was a man of unknown origins. A separate biography says he was a native of Dunhuang, originally surnamed Meng. He went forth in his youth; wishing to reside secluded in rocky valleys, he first cut off grain food. At first, he ate flour for three years; later, he ingested refined pine resin for thirty years; thereafter, he only occasionally swallowed small pebbles. Once the pebbles were passed, he also gave up wine, dried meat, and various fruits. His body feared wind and cold, so he only ate pepper and ginger. His physical strength was subtle and weak, yet his complexion was glossy, and he walked as if flying. Mountain spirits tested him several times, but he was never swayed. Immortals often came, yet his mind was not enchanted; he always chewed garlic to drive them away. Sitting upright in quiet reflection, he did not sleep day or night, dwelling for a long time at Baolao. In the second year of the Jianwu reign era of Shi Hu, he was welcomed from Xiping to Ye. Without riding in boats or carriages, he traveled over seven hundred li a day. Passing through Nan'an, he ordained a boy of thirteen or fourteen as a novice, whose walking pace could also match Kai's. Upon arrival, he resided in Zhaode Pagoda. His garments were tattered and torn, and his back and shoulders were often bare. Inside his room, he built a platform eight or nine feet high, weaving reeds above it into a screen, and practiced dhyāna within it. Having abstained from grain for seven years, he constantly consumed various medicinal herbs, which carried the scent of pine resin and tuckahoe. He was skilled at curing eye diseases and constantly traveled through villages and wilds to heal the common people. The gifts piled up by princes and nobles from far and wide were all accepted and distributed, leaving not a single thread behind. Toward the end of Shi Hu's reign, foreknowing the turmoil, he and his disciples went south to Xuchang. In the third year of the Shengping reign era, he came to Jianye, and later went to Panyu to dwell on Mount Luofu. Lying in the shade of the grove, he was detached and contented. He died in the seventh month of that year. His dying instruction was to leave his corpse exposed in the forest, and his disciples complied. Yuan Yanbo of Chen Commandery, who was Grand Administrator of Nanhai in the first year of the Xingning reign era, ascended and toured this peak with his younger brother Yingsheng, paying respect to his remains and burning incense in reverence. (The six miracles above are from the *Records of Signs from the Unseen Realm* [*Mingxiang ji*].)