法苑珠林 84.47

84.47

Monk Huirong of Puguang Temple in Chang'an under the Tang dynasty was courtesy-named Yuanzhao. His secular surname was Zhang, and he was a native of Nanyang. From his youth he was vigorous, committing not the slightest evil. As a young man he shaved his hair and delighted in joining the company of meditation. He once lived in seclusion on Mount Tai. Later, receiving an imperial order, he was summoned to the capital to reside at Puguang Temple. At times he wandered on Mount Zhongnan, coming and going. Once, ascending the mountain, he encountered deep snow and was unable to proceed. Suddenly a tiger approached, lowered its ears, and crouched down. Huirong understood its intention and mounted it; the tiger then bore Rong upward. There were constantly a pair of birds flying ahead in the mountain forests to lead the way. At the beginning of the Yonghui era, his spirit passed away at his home temple. The temple monks saw five-colored light arise above Huirong's dwelling. When his body was cremated on the mountain, his flesh and bones were completely consumed, but his heart alone did not decay. (These two proofs above are from the Tang Biographies of Eminent Monks.)