法苑珠林 28.29

28.29

Di Shichang of the Jin dynasty was a native of Zhongshan. His family was wealthy. During the Taikang reign era, people of the Jin were prohibited from becoming śramaṇas. Shichang practiced the Dharma with diligence, secretly establishing a vihāra within his residence to support śramaṇas, among whom Yu Falan was present. When monks came, he turned none away. There was a bhikṣu of crude and ugly appearance, his clothes dusty and worn, who came through the mire to visit Shichang. Shichang came out, bowed to him, and ordered a servant to fetch water to wash his feet. The bhikṣu said, 'Shichang, you should wash my feet yourself.' Shichang said, 'I am old, fatigued, and frail; I use a servant in my place.' The bhikṣu would not allow it, so Shichang secretly cursed him and walked away. The bhikṣu then manifested supernatural powers, transforming his body to eight cubits in height, with a majestic appearance, and flew away through the air. Shichang beat his breast, lamented in regret, and threw himself into the mud. At that time, some fifty to sixty monks, nuns, and passersby near the Di family home all watched together and saw him dozens of fathoms up in the sky, distinct and clear. An extraordinary fragrance lingered for a month without fading. Falan was Master of the Dharma Mingli, who established tenets; an account of him is in a later volume. The tradition was that Lan told it to his disciple Fajie, and Jie often recounted it, so it was widely known among both clergy and laity.