法苑珠林 40.29

40.29

In the first year of the Yixi era of the Jin, a man of Linyi once had a śarīra. On every fasting day it produced light. The śramaṇa Huisui, accompanying Diao Kui, the regional inspector of Guangzhou, was in the south; revering its luminous appearance, he wished to request it. Before he could utter a word, the śarīra divided itself into two. Hearing of this, Kui was delighted in his heart and also requested to retain it for worship, whereupon it divided again into three. Kui wished to make a replica of the Changgan image, but the temple abbot held stubbornly and would not allow it. At night, [the abbot] dreamed of a man several zhang tall who told him, "Images are valued for spreading and guiding; why be so begrudging?" The next morning he sent word granting permission to replicate it. Once it was completed, Kui placed the śarīra inside the topknot of the image. The fact that many of the images coming from the West radiate light is on account of their śarīra.