法苑珠林 83.42

83.42

During the Sui dynasty, Shi Tanxun of Baijian Mountain Temple in Huai Prefecture had the secular surname Yang and was a native of Huayin in Hongnong. He disciplined himself and practiced austerities, taking mind-learning as his guiding principle. Searching afar for hermits in the rocky heights, he traveled to Linluoquan Temple north of Bailu Mountain, where he met Meditation Master Tanzhun, who transmitted the meditation method to him. He also went to Meditation Master Chou's place to inquire about the crossing and the Way; he was treated with great courtesy and deeply savoured the taste of dhyāna. After three summer retreats, he moved to reside in Lutugu to practice meditation. It happened that a dry spring welled forth again, and roe deer and elaphures encircled the courtyard; thus obtaining sweet water and tamed beasts, he daily aided his neighbors in the Way. The disciples who followed his study congratulated each other on these auspicious omens. Once, while on a brief journey to Yunmen to request the Dharma, he encountered a path obscured by dark fog and lost his way; suddenly he was guided by a mountain deity who showed him the path, whereupon he met the original route. This was his spiritual influence moving the unseen world, such that the spirits defended and escorted him. At that time, a thief came to steal vegetables; just as he was about to leave the garden, he was stung by a swarm of bees. Xun heard of it and came to the rescue, treating him with a compassionate mind so that his remaining life was preserved. Once, a man from Zhao came from afar, earnestly paying homage and stating: 'Your disciple died of an illness and revived; I went and saw King Yama, who interrogated me, and I was about to be cast into hell. Fortunately, I relied on Master Xun, who came to plead for my life, and the King therefore released and pardoned me. Having never met you in this life, I inquired afar to confirm it.' Moreover, while walking in the mountains, he came upon two tigers fighting, which did not cease for days on end. Xun held his staff and separated them, shielding them with his own body, and said: 'Living together in the forest, by rights you have no great estrangement. I hope you will each go your own way; why must you persist in anger?' Hearing this, the tigers hung their heads, swallowed their wrath, and dispersed. He repeatedly encountered bears and tigers fighting incessantly; in all cases Xun went to save them, roughly as related above. When he entered samādhi, birds were not disturbed, and beasts looked upon him as their kin. Furthermore, his secret merit moved living beings, his manifest application concealed benevolence. Every time he entered meditation, seven days was the period; a white tiger entered his room and dwelt together with him in the cavernous chamber. He lived alone in a quiet courtyard, not leaving for ten years. Emperor Wen of the Sui revered his virtue, repeatedly sending imperial letters with royal seals, along with successive gifts of incense and offerings over many years. In the early years of the Kaihuang era, his wind rash suddenly worsened, and he died at Baijian Mountain Temple at the age of eighty. When he first fell critically ill, suddenly a divine light shone brightly, and a fragrant breeze brushed the door. Moreover, it moved a strange bird with a white neck and red body, which flew circling in the air around the courtyard, its cries sorrowful and mournful. When his breath reached its final extremity, the bird rested on the base of the hall, naturally tamed and close, not fearing humans or animals. Sometimes it was at the door of the chamber, or beside his sleeping mat, mourning even more intensely, tears of blood welling in its eyes. Once he passed away, the bird flew out into the open sky, wheeled around, and suddenly vanished into flight. It also moved a fierce tiger to roar around the courtyard. For two nights there was dark fog, and for three days a gloom hung heavy; in addition, mountains crumbled, rocks fell, forests were destroyed, and gullies blocked. Humans and beasts were startled and panicked, losing their footing. How could one exhaustively record his moving spiritual omens? (The two verifications above from the world are from Tang Gaoseng zhuan.)