法苑珠林 64.76

64.76

Shi Huiyue of the Huiri Bodhimanda under the Sui was a man of Lingnan. He lived on Mount Luofu. By nature, he had universal love and compassionately rescued all living beings. Lodging in secluded and perilous places, tigers and leopards never troubled him. Once a pack of beasts came before him, and he preached the Dharma for them. A tiger then rested its head upon his knee, and Yue stroked its whiskers, his expression showing no fear at all. The assembly all witnessed this. His transformative influence spread across the Five Ridges, and his reputation flowed through the Three Chu. In the late Kaihuang era, he was summoned to the Huiri Monastery. On his way back to Yangzhou, he took ill and died. When his corpse was placed upon the bier, he looked as if he were still alive. At night, flames of light were seen issuing from his feet and entering the crown of his head, then emerging from his head and entering his feet, continuing without cease through the night. Monastics and laity were extraordinarily amazed, calling it unprecedented.