佛祖統紀 53.147

53.147

Under Emperor Gaozu of the Tang: The scholar Gou Qian wrote the Diamond Sūtra in the air, saying, "This is intended for all the devas to read and recite." Later there was a great rain, but the area of over a zhang was not wet. An extraordinary monk said, "In the air above this ground there is a sūtra, and all the devas cover it with a jeweled parasol." ○ Under Emperor Taizong: Cen Wenben constantly recited the Universal Gate Chapter; when crossing the Wu River by boat, the boat capsized, but he followed the waves to the shore. Later he held an offering feast at home, and a monk said, "The realm is just now in turmoil; you fortunately do not partake in it, and disaster will ultimately lead to wealth and honor." During Taizong's reign, he became Director of the Secretariat. ○ Under Emperor Xuanzong: The śramaṇa Chujin was reciting the Lotus Sūtra, and when he reached the Stūpa Chapter, the stūpa suddenly manifested before him. ○ Ren Shan of Suizhou died of illness, and together with a monk arrived at King Yama's place. The monk said, "I constantly recited the Diamond Sūtra." Suddenly five-colored clouds welcomed the monk and ascended to heaven. The nether official said to Shan, "You too once recited it," and immediately ordered him released to return. Zhao Bi of Lianshui met his deceased wife on the road; she said, "I am now suffering; you can take my clothing to produce a Diamond Sūtra." When one copy was nearly completed, as he passed by her grave, an old man said, "Your wife has already been born in heaven." ○ Su Gui's entire household constantly recited the Diamond Sūtra; Lady Jiang-Cui, because she was emaciated and exhausted, secretly ate meat, and choked on a bone until her breath ceased and she saw King Yama, who rebuked her, saying, "Your husband is a flesh-body bodhisattva; why did you eat meat? Relying on the merit of reciting the sūtra, your life is extended by twenty years." She then revived. ○ Under Emperor Suzong: The śramaṇa Baoyu entered the capital to receive precepts; the Emperor dreamed of a monk from Wu reciting the Lotus Sūtra, with five-colored light issuing from his mouth (and so on). ○ Under Emperor Daizong: The śramaṇa Daozun established a Lotus Sūtra Cloister and selected fourteen men of noble conduct to constantly uphold the Lotus Sūtra, continuing through the day with candles. ○ Assistant Prefect Zhou Boda constantly upheld the Diamond Sūtra; suddenly he saw an Indian monk who called himself Subhūti, who said to him, "Since you recite the sūtra, why have you not abstained from meat?" Boda was terrified, immediately turned to a vegetarian diet, and auspicious responses appeared repeatedly. ○ Under Emperor Wenzong: When the imperial kitchen was cooking chicken eggs, suddenly the eggs called out to Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva; an imperial edict forbade the use of chicken eggs. Furthermore, one day when he was eating clams, there was one that could not be opened; presently it transformed into the form of the Great Being. Therefore, an imperial edict ordered all temples throughout the realm to erect images of Avalokiteśvara.