法苑珠林 96.28

96.28

During the Sui dynasty, there was the monk Shi Dazhi of Ganlu Peak on Mount Lu. His secular surname was Gu, and he was a native of Shanyin in Kuaiji. He served Tiantai [Zhiyi] as his master and submitted his heart to him for a long time. When [Zhi]yi saw his countenance, he knew his spirit and resolve; thus those who looked upon him observed that he was no ordinary vessel. Later, to the south of Ganlu Peak on Mount Lianhua, he established the Jingguan Daocheng (Pure Contemplation Bodhimaṇḍa), practicing dhūta austerities as his vocation. Alone with his single body, he did not avoid roaring tigers. Whenever he heard there was a fierce beast, he would go and cast himself before it, yet they all avoided him and would not eat him. This went on for seven years, and his meditation practice never ceased. Later in life he lived at Fulin Temple on this mountain. When the Daye reign-era brought abolitions, dispersals, and flights into seclusion, he grieved that the Dharma had declined to such a degree. He thereupon changed his attire, disfigured his appearance, dressed in coarse cloth, and wailed loudly inside the Buddha hall. For three days and three nights, he did not pause at all. The temple monks consoled and advised him, but Dazhi said, "I lament that evil karma should reach such an extent! Let this skeleton be exhausted in evil, so as to make clear the orthodox teaching." Thereupon he went to the Eastern Capital and submitted a memorial saying, "I pray that Your Majesty revive and manifest the Three Jewels. I shall burn one arm on Mount Song to repay the imperial kindness." The Emperor granted permission and decreed that a great vegetarian feast be prepared, gathering all seven assemblies. Dazhi fasted for three days, climbed onto a large scaffold, heated an iron brazier red-hot, and used it to brand his arm, making it entirely scorched and black. He severed it with a knife so that the flesh tore open and the bone appeared. He again branded the bone until it was scorched black, wrapped it in cloth, poured wax over it, and set it alight from below. Its light shone over the crags and peaks. At that time, when the great assembly saw his ascetic practice, their hearts and marrows all ached and they could not stand still on their feet. Yet although Dazhi was being burned and branded, his expression and speech did not change, and he spoke and laughed as before. At times he recited Dharma verses praising the Buddha's virtues, and at times preached the Dharma to the assembly with earnest and poignant words. Once his arm had burned away completely, he descended from the scaffold as before. He entered samādhi for seven days and died while sitting cross-legged. He was forty-three years of age at the time.