Shitian Faxun 石田法薰

School: Linji | 1171–1245 | Teacher: Po'an Zuxian

Of the Peng 彭 family of Meishan; his clan-ancestor was Xiatang Huiyuan, the Chan master who answered Xiaozong on the dharma and was titled Fohai. Quick as a child — he knew to bow to monks and images at three or four — he begged his parents' leave at sixteen and went to Zhiming at Fabao cloister on Mount Shilong in Danling; he was tonsured and fully ordained at twenty-two. Travelling south through Hunan he visited the patriarchs' traces, and while living near Shishuang he walked the hundred and twenty li to bow at Daowu's stupa on every new and full moon, never stopping even in old age; one night in a thunderstorm the stupa was said to have moved to meet him, and it is called the Thunder-moved Stupa to this day. He went on to Wuyong Quan at Tiantong and Kongsou Yin at Maofeng, and finally, hearing of the renown of Po'an at Qionglong in Wu, went and stayed — Po'an knew him at once for a vessel of the dharma. He was abbot of Lingyin. He died on the eleventh of the first month of 1245, aged 75.

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