法苑珠林 35.72

35.72

At Sanxueshan Temple in Jianzhou, Shu province, of the Tang, in the twelfth year of Kaihuang of the Sui, a footprint of the Buddha appeared on the east wall of the temple, one foot eight inches long and seven inches wide. Moreover, divine lamps appeared from the sky, consistently so every evening, and even more on fasting days. A prefect, wishing to seek it, rode a horse to the temple. More than ten li away, the lamps in the sky were seen in an array; approaching closer, they grew dimmer, and were finally entirely lost. Returning ten li back, they were seen again as before. Down to the present day it has not ceased. At first, one lamp emerges, exceedingly large. From this large lamp, over a thousand disperse into the four quarters of the sky. Encountering a great wind, these small lamps are blown out; after they are extinguished, the large lamp emerges again. The small lamps disperse through the four quarters of the sky, extinguishing only at dawn. Every month on the six fasting days, it consistently appears like this. Toward the end of Zhenguan, there was a monk named Fazang who had a mind for begging and did not guard small rules of conduct. Spending the night in the temple, a great spirit in armor and feathered helmet pulled him out through the gate and hurled him seven li outside the temple; his foot was injured, but he was otherwise unhurt. Returning to the temple at night, the double gates were all closed. Afterwards, he exerted himself diligently in his practice of the Path. (The one proof above comes from the Biographies of Eminent Monks.)