法苑珠林 42.76

42.76

Teng Bing of Nanyang during the Jin was from a family that had maintained reverence and faith for generations. His wife, of the Quan clan from Wu Commandery, was particularly capable of diligent asceticism. Whenever they set up fasting assemblies, they never declined to invite anyone; whoever came was invited to stay and receive offerings. Later, at one assembly, the number of monks fell short. They sent someone to make an inquiry at the crossroads, who soon saw a śramaṇa sitting in the shade of a willow tree. The servant thereupon invited him to return with him. The purificatory attendant (śuddha-puruṣa), while serving food, tipped over the rice onto the ground, overturning the baskets completely until they were entirely empty; he was utterly at a loss. This śramaṇa said: "In my bowl there is rice enough to feed the entire assembly." He had Bing distribute it; thereupon, the monastics and laity, indoors and out, were all fed to satisfaction. When the purificatory meal was over, he tossed the bowl into the air; it fluttered upward, disappearing beyond the reach of their eyes. Bing immediately carved a wooden likeness of him, bowing and paying homage morning and night. Whenever misfortune or disaster was about to befall Bing's household, this statue would always topple over first. Bing's son Han was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Dongxing for his merit in [quelling the rebellion of] Su Jun.