法苑珠林 91.37

91.37

At the beginning of the Northern Qi, there was the śramaṇa Master Bao, who was a hermit living high on lofty mountains. One morning, he set out from Linlü toward Mount Bailu. Because he lost his way and the sun was approaching midday, he suddenly heard the sound of a bell and advanced, following the sound. He climbed and hastened through precipitous crags and peaks, and then saw a temple standing alone in the deep forest, its triple gate facing directly south, radiant and resplendent. Stepping forward to the gate, he looked at the plaque, which read "Lingyin." Outside the temple gate were five or six dogs as large as oxen, with white hair and black muzzles, some leaping and some lying down, glancing at Bao with their eyes. Bao was frightened and about to turn back. In an instant, a Central Asian monk came from outside; Bao called to him, but he did not answer, nor did he look back, but walked straight through the gate, and the dogs followed him inside. After a long while, Bao saw no one, and gradually entered the next gate. The buildings were surrounded on four sides, and the doors of the rooms were all closed. Advancing to the lecture hall, he saw only couches and high seats arranged solemnly. Bao went to the couch in the southwest corner and sat down. After a long while, he suddenly heard a sound among the roof beams. Looking up, he saw an opening as large as a well, from which bhikṣus flew down one after another from the opening, amounting to fifty or sixty people. Having sat down according to their ranks, they inquired among themselves, "At the time of the fast today, where did you go to eat?" Some said Yuzhang, Chengdu, Chang'an, Longyou, Jibei, Lingnan, the Five Indias, and so forth; there was nowhere they did not reach, moving over ten thousand li at a time. The last monk came down from the sky. Everyone vied to ask, "Why have you come so late?" He answered, "Today at the lecture assembly of Chan Master Jian at Pi'an Temple east of Xiangzhou city, each was defending doctrines; there were many young, intelligent people raising difficult questions, with sharp arguments arising, which was truly a sight to see. Unawares, it became late, and so I arrived [only now]." Bao originally served Jian as his upādhyāya. Having heard these words, hoping to join the conversation and show his high standing, he straightened his robes, was about to rise, and answered the monks, "Jian is my, Bao's, upādhyāya." The monks stared directly at him, and suddenly the temple vanished. He was left sitting alone beneath a boulder and decayed wood. Of the previous temple buildings, nothing was to be seen; he saw only crags and valleys, with birds soaring and flocking, their noisy cries cutting to the heart. Coming out, he asked Dharma Master Shangtong about it. Shang said, "This temple was built in the Zhao era by Dharma Master Fotudeng. Through the long years, sages and worthies have dwelt there; it is not a place for ordinary people to stay. Sometimes it submerges, sometimes it conceals itself, shifting and moving without fixed abode. Even now, those who travel in the mountains still hear the sound of the bell." (Appears in Hou Junsu's *Records of Manifested Wonders*.)