Discover the intriguing tale of two foreign monks who arrived in Qingzhou, dressed strangely, and demonstrated mysterious powers that left the temple inhabitants in awe.
Once, a monk named Tiku told the following story: In Qingzhou, there were two foreign monks who had a peculiar and strange appearance. They had earrings hanging from their ears, wore yellow robes, and had curly hair and beards. They claimed to be from the Western regions and had heard that the Governor of Qingzhou valued Buddhism, so they came to pay their respects. The Governor of Qingzhou sent two attendants to escort them to the temple.
The monks in the temple, including the Abbot, did not hold them in high regard. However, the temple’s administrator, who oversaw the monks, noticed that they were different and secretly hosted them. The two foreign monks stayed there. Someone asked them, “Are there any extraordinary beings in the West, like Arhats with strange powers?” One of the monks smiled faintly, pulled something out from his sleeve, and held a small pagoda in his palm, which was a little over a foot tall and exquisitely beautiful.
On the highest part of the temple’s wall, there was a small niche. The monk threw the small pagoda toward the niche, and it landed perfectly without any deviation. People saw that the pagoda emitted a radiant light, illuminating the entire room. After a while, the monk waved his hand, and the small pagoda returned to his palm.
The other monk bared his arms, sometimes extending his left arm, which was six or seven feet long, while his right arm disappeared. Then he extended his right arm, which was in the same condition as his left arm.
《番僧》
释体空言：在青州，见二番僧，象貌奇古，耳缀双环，被黄布，须发鬈如。自言从西域来，闻太守重佛，谒之。太守遣二隶，送诣丛林。和尚灵辔，不甚礼之。执事者见其人异，私款之，止宿焉。或问：“西域多异人，罗汉得无有奇术否？”其一冁然笑，出手于袖，掌中托小塔，高裁盈尺，玲珑可爱。壁上最高处，有小龛，僧掷塔其中，矗然端立，无少偏倚。视塔上有舍利放光，照耀一室。少间，以手招之，仍落掌中。其一僧乃袒臂，伸左肱，长可六七尺，而右肱缩无有矣。转伸右肱，亦如左状。