法苑珠林 89.121

89.121

Śramaṇa Shi Jingye of Wuzhen Bodhimaṇḍa on Mount Zhongnan under the Sui dynasty was a native of Sui in Handong. He thoroughly investigated the vinaya texts and broadly integrated diverse traditions. Steadfastly clear within, his fine renown raced abroad. In the second year of Renshou, he was recommended to escort śarīra to Jingzang Temple in Anzhou. At first it was intended to install them at Shili Temple, but when they reached Jingzang, an extraordinary fragrance was suddenly sensed, and the whole courtyard of people marveled at it together. Accordingly, they erected [the shrine], and as they were about to lower the śarīra, a red light leaped forth and shone upon people and things. On the upper story of the temple's multi-storied pavilion, the sound of crowds walking was heard; yet when they went to catch them by surprise, the doors were bolted as before, and not a single person was seen. North of the pagoda was a pool. As Śramaṇa Jingfan was conferring the bodhisattva precepts upon both monastics and layfolk, a school of fish leaped and gamboled, their heads all facing south as if in the posture of taking refuge. Fan then took a boat into the water to confer the precepts upon the fish; the fish all turned their heads and circled the boat, as though listening and receiving, without the slightest fear. Jingye rejoiced at this encounter and placed the śarīra in the Buddha Hall. There had previously been a clay bodhisattva image there that could not be moved. By morning, it was seen to have turned its head to face the śarīra, its appearance looking completely natural, without the slightest damage. Special auspicious omens repeatedly arose, beyond the capacity of words to recount. On the eighteenth day of the second month of the twelfth year of Daye, he died at his own temple at the age of fifty-three.