法苑珠林 82.53

82.53

Later, under the Southern Liang, there was the śramaṇa Shi Facong of Jingkong Temple in Xiangyang. He was a native of Xinye in Nanyang. Outstandingly upright in spirit, his nature was as pure as jade. He was content with greens and legumes, seeking no rich delicacies. He subsequently came to White Horse Spring on Mount Sangai in Xiangyang, where he built a room one zhang square to serve as a dwelling to settle his mind. He entered the valley in two places and established āraṇya hermitages; those patrolling the mountain today still recognize their old foundations. At first, the Prince of Jin'an of the Liang, having heard of his reputation, came to inquire of him. Just as he approached the meditation cell, accompanied by horsemen, the mounts stepped backward without cause. The prince returned ashamed, and that night he experienced a bad dream. Later he went again, and the horses retreated as before. The prince then purified himself with fasting and personally displayed utter reverence; only then was he able to enter and see him. When he first arrived at the side of the temple, he saw only a valley ablaze with fierce fire. Gazing and waiting for a good while, it suddenly turned into water. After pausing and looking on in admiration for a moment, the water vanished and the hall appeared. When he inquired about the matter, he learned that [Facong] was at that time entering the water and fire samādhis. On either side of the corded chair where Facong sat in the hall, there was a tiger. The prince did not dare advance. Facong then pressed their heads to the ground with his hands, closed their eyes, and summoned the prince forward; only then was he able to pay his respects. The prince then reported that his territory was sorely plagued by the calamity of tigers and requested Facong's help. Facong immediately entered samādhi. In a moment, seventeen large tigers arrived. He then conferred the three refuges and precepts upon them, enjoining them not to harm or assault the common people. He also instructed a disciple to tie cloths around the tigers' necks, [saying,] 'When seven full days have passed, you must come here.' On the appointed day, the prince held a vegetarian feast and the assembly gathered; the tigers arrived as well. [Facong] then gave them food and drink and untied the cloths, after which they caused no harm. On that day he led the prince to White Horse Spring, within which was a white turtle that took food directly from Facong's hand. He said to the prince, 'This is a male dragon.' They also went to the Numinous Spring, where there was a five-coloured carp that likewise took food from his hand. He said, 'This is a female dragon.' The prince and his officers sighed in admiration at these events, gave lavish donations, and returned. There were several dozen rough men among the attendants who came by night intending to plunder the donated goods. They met roaring tigers blocking their path, and also saw a giant standing beside the meditation cell; a pine tree beside him reached only to his knees. Holding a vajra pestle, he was on guard. Pacing restlessly throughout the night, they returned only at noon. The prince found their arrival strange, and only then did they confess the matter. He subsequently submitted a memorial reporting it. When Facong first lived in the meditation hall, white deer and white sparrows would constantly perch and dwell there tamely. Wherever he went, compassionate rescue was his priority. Seeing a butcher driving over a hundred pigs, Facong called out three times, 'Liberation! Śūraṅgama!' The pigs' ropes then came undone and they scattered. The butchers were furious and were about to strike him, but they all stood stiffly unable to move. They then returned to repent their wrongdoing and consequently discontinued the karma of killing. Again, on the Han River, fishermen were pulling in nets. As before, he called out three times, and they were unable to pull the nets; only then did their hearts turn, and they returned with empty nets. Furthermore, Jingzhou suffered a severe drought. Changsha Temple dispatched a monk to Facong's dwelling to pray for rain. When the messenger returned, heavy rain fell, filling the pools and ponds. Later he died at Tiangong Temple in Jiangling; this was in the early years of the Liang. A stele inscription still exists at that temple.