法苑珠林 97.64

97.64

During the Sui, the śramaṇa Xuanjing of Yexia in Xiangzhou was surnamed Shi and was a person from Cangzhou. He thoroughly understood the profound and subtle, lecturing purely on the Mahāyāna. Later, after lying ill for three days, he told his attendants: "I, Xuanjing, wish to see Maitreya Buddha; why have I become the lord of the Yāma Heaven instead?" He also said: "There are a great many guests who require looking after." When someone asked the reason, he answered: "How can an ordinary person's perceptions and thoughts investigate this? Just now a host of devas arrived, seeking to welcome me." After this, an extraordinary fragrance filled the room, which everyone smelled together. He further said: "I am about to depart. May I vow to be reborn in the world as a spiritual friend." He then passed away at his dwelling place; this was the sixth month of the second year of Daye. In his life he had always made the vow: "May my corpse be sunk into the water." After his death, following his previous intention, he was buried in the deep currents of the Zimo River. After three days people went to look, and the place where he was submerged had instead become a sand mound, exceedingly tall and steep, with the water dividing into two streams. Clergy and laity marveled at this elegant omen, and the account of this trace has been transmitted to this day. (The above evidential miracle is from the Tang Gaoseng zhuan.)