法苑珠林 36.64

36.64

Shi Huizhu of Yong'an County in Shizhou under the Tang was surnamed Jia. He was foremost in upholding the Vinaya, and combined this with managing merits. Later, he went into hiding in the Southern Mountains of his native village. He ate only pine needles. Strange birds and beasts gathered together in silence. Mountain deities would bring and present him with fuling and spikenard incense. He practiced the ritual path during the six intervals of the day without missing a single one. The beasts followed him in circumambulation, prostrating before the Buddha and requesting sūtras, seeming to listen and revere. He then administered the bodhisattva precepts for both the hidden and the manifest. Later, a troupe of monkeys spoke, saying, 'A marvel has been done for you, sir; the sun of the Buddha penetrates everywhere.' Huizhu was deeply astonished by this anomaly, for it was unheard of for beasts to speak. Furthermore, auspicious dragons and flying beasts gathered, carrying strange incense that filled the interior of the mountain. Later, eight men who were gathering wood for bows were greatly astonished. They comforted Huizhu, saying, 'A sage ruler has appeared in the world; the era is named Kaihuang.' In the third year of Zhenguan, there was Meditation Master Ming at the temple, who was eminent and extraordinary. Sitting alone in the daylight, he saw that half of his body was missing. He related to the assembly: 'Vinaya Master Zhu and I established this temple together. We two were of one mind, and now I have suddenly lost half my body. Could it be that the Vinaya Master is about to pass away first?' At mealtime the next day, laypeople said in astonishment: 'Is the temple holding a gathering? We saw thousands of visiting monks entering the temple from four roads. Where are they now?' Shortly thereafter, at noon, Huizhu passed away without illness, at the age of eighty-nine.