續高僧傳 28.20

28.20

釋法泰。眉州隆山縣人也。俗姓呂氏。初為道士十餘年。中間忽自悟。迴心正覺。因即剃除。始誦法華經。尋即通利。乃精勤寫得法華經一部。數有靈瑞。欲將向益州莊潢。令一人擔負。一頭以籠盛錢二千。束縛經置錢上。一頭是衣服。擔行至地名莋橋。橋忽斷泰在後。負擔人俱墜水中。人浮得出。擔沒不見。泰於岸上搥胸號哭曰。錢衣豈非閑事。何忍溺經。即高聲唱言。如能為漉得者。賞錢兩貫。時有一人聞之脫衣入水沒。求之數度。出入得錢與衣幞。而不得經。泰轉悲泣。巡岸上下。望小洲上有一幞。命人取之。乃是經也。草木擎之宛無濕處。泰不勝歡喜。即以二千錢。償所漉人曰。法師悲號劇喪父母。故為急覓。非是貪錢弟子。雖傭夫亦知福報。請以此錢充莊嚴之直。言訖遁去。更欲與言去已遠矣。泰至城都裝潢。以檀香為軸。表帶及帙并函。將還本寺別處安置。夜夜有異香。泰勤誦持一夜一遍。時彪法師彼寺講。夜欲看讀。恒嫌泰鬧亂其心。自欲往請令稍下聲。乃見泰前大有人眾皆胡跪合掌。彪退流汗。即移所住。泰年八十終矣。

Shi Fatai was a native of Longshan County in Meizhou, with the secular surname Lü. At first, he was a Daoist master for more than ten years; midway, he suddenly awakened of himself, turning his mind toward correct enlightenment, and thereupon shaved his head. He began to recite the Lotus Sūtra, and soon became fluent in it. He then diligently transcribed a copy of the Lotus Sūtra, which frequently manifested miraculous omens. Wishing to take it to Yizhou for mounting, he had a man carry it on a shoulder-pole: on one end, a basket held two thousand copper coins, with the scripture bundled and placed atop the coins; on the other end were clothes. When the porter walked to a place called Zuo Bridge, the bridge suddenly broke. Tai was behind him, and the man carrying the load plunged into the water. The man was able to float out, but the load sank and was not to be seen. Tai beat his chest on the bank and wailed aloud, saying: "Are not money and clothes trivial matters? How could I bear to let the scripture drown!" He immediately shouted aloud: "If someone can fish it out for me, I will reward him with two strings of cash!" At that time, a man heard this, stripped off his clothes, and dived into the water; after searching several times, coming out and going in, he retrieved the money and the bundle of clothes, but did not get the scripture. Tai wept even more bitterly, pacing up and down the bank. Gazing at a small islet, he saw a bundle there and ordered someone to retrieve it; it was indeed the scripture. Borne aloft by grass and trees, it had no wet spots whatsoever. Tai was overjoyed and immediately offered the two thousand coins to the man who had dredged the river, saying, [though the man replied:] "The Dharma master wailed more bitterly than for the death of his parents; therefore I searched urgently for you, not out of greed for the disciple's money. Although I am a hired laborer, I also understand karmic recompense. Please take this money to cover the cost of the mounting." Having spoken, he slipped away; when [Tai] wished to speak with him further, he was already far away. Tai reached Chengdu and had it mounted, using sandalwood for the rollers, with wrappers, ribbons, cases, and caskets. He brought it back to his home temple to enshrine in a separate place; night after night there was an extraordinary fragrance. Tai diligently recited and maintained it, once every night. At that time, Dharma Master Biao was lecturing at that temple; wishing to read at night, he constantly resented that Tai's noise disturbed his mind. Intending to go ask him to lower his voice slightly, he then saw that in front of Tai was a great assembly of people, all kneeling on both knees with palms joined. Biao retreated, dripping with sweat, and immediately moved his dwelling. Tai died at the age of eighty.