法苑珠林 95.54

95.54

Under the Sui dynasty, at Matou Mountain in Wencheng Commandery, there was Shi Sengshan, of the Xi family, a native of Zhengping in Jiang Commandery. During the Renshou era, his spiritual practice flourished even more. When his illness became critical and he was near death, he said to his disciples, "The reason I suffer from cold masses in my intestines is that in my youth, while living in the mountains to cultivate the practice, grain provisions were cut off; too lazy to go seek food, I ate small pebbles to satisfy myself morning and evening, which I realize became an illness. After I die, cut open my intestines to see, and it will surely be as I have said. After my death, do not cremate me, which would externally harm living creatures; you may seat me inside a large urn and bury me." In the early years of the Daye era, he passed away within Dahuang Cliff. Monastics and laity buried him according to his words. In Jiangzhou, the bhikṣu Sengxi learned and practiced under Master Shan, without failing to uphold the transforming Dharma. On the day Master Shan died, [Sengxi] had traveled elsewhere and did not witness it; later, when he searched for his remains, no one knew where they were. Suddenly, the cracking roar of an explosion shook the area, echoing through the forest and valley; the earth was seen to split open and surge, bringing the urn outside. The skeleton was as white as snow, with only the tongue remaining intact, bright red and lustrous, exceeding its appearance in life. Thereupon, he took the tongue and bones to build a stūpa. (The preceding verification is from the Tang Gaoseng zhuan.)