法苑珠林 63.51

63.51

To the west of Mount Lu in Xunyang of the Jin dynasty, there was the Longquan Vihāra, which was founded by the śramaṇa Huiyuan. When Yuan first crossed to the south, he loved the beauty of this place and wished to build a monastery, but had not determined the precise site. He sent his disciples to explore the forests and ravines, and they rested wearily at this spot. The monks were all thirsty and made a vow together: “If this place is suitable for founding a vihāra, we pray that divine power immediately cause a fine spring to appear.” He then struck the ground with his staff, and a clear spring gushed forth; they gathered it into a reservoir, and built the halls based upon it. Later, when the weather suffered a severe drought, Yuan led the monks in reciting the *Sūtra of the Dragon King of the Ocean* to pray for rain for the people. Before the recitation was completed, a creature in the spring resembling a bean snake soared into the air and departed. Shortly thereafter, torrential rain poured down on all four sides, flowing through the ravines until it ceased; because of this auspicious omen of the dragon, the monastery took its name.