法苑珠林 84.42

84.42

In the Song dynasty, at Anle Temple in Shu, there was Shi Pucheng. His surname was Guo, and he was a native of Chengdu in Shu Commandery. When he was a child, he once saw a holy monk in the sunlight preaching the Dharma in the clouds. He recounted this to his family, but none believed his words. Later, he earnestly sought to leave household life, residing at Anle Temple under the provincial seat. He lived alone in a single room without keeping disciples, practicing peaceful dhyāna, and was skilled in entering, abiding in, and emerging from it. He shared the same intentions with Vinaya Master Tao of Shu. He spoke of himself as entering the samādhi of fiery radiance, the light proceeding straight down from between his eyebrows to the vajra base, and within the light seeing various forms and images, with the karmic retributions of his past lives being quite clear. People in the Shengming era of the Song thought this was jest. When his end approached, he showed slight signs of illness; only a servant from a relative's household attended to him. The next morning, he passed away sitting upright, with three fingers bent. When [the servant] tried to straighten them, they followed the pull and extended, but once extended they bent back again. During his life his body was dark, but after death it became fresh and white. Thereupon the assembly cremated him in accordance with the rites for those who have attained the Way. Just as the firewood began to burn, five-coloured smoke arose, exuding a distinct, rich fragrance. The regional commander Wang Xuanzai composed a eulogy for him, saying: