弘贊法華傳 5.14

5.14

蔣王家。有一部曲。忘記名姓。從八九歲。即受持法花經。晝夜念誦。忘寢與食。王。時任箕州刺史。部曲。遂情願燒身。有女。事王。王極寵遇。女以狀啟王。王從之。部曲乃於山中。澡浴清淨。并潔壇場。遂自焚身。經月。其女。令人收父灰燼。形骨都盡。乃於灰中。唯得一舌。肉色鮮澤。猶若生時。王女婿韋徵。見之嗟歎。因遂啟王。王親視之。施加欽異。後經數歲。亦復如常。

In the household of Prince Jiang, there was a retainer whose name has been forgotten. From the age of eight or nine, he received and held the Lotus Sūtra, reciting it day and night, forgetting both sleep and food. The Prince was at that time serving as the Regional Inspector of Qizhou. The retainer thereupon wished from his heart to burn his body. He had a daughter who served the Prince and was deeply favored by him. The daughter reported the situation to the Prince, and the Prince granted it. The retainer thereupon bathed and purified himself in the mountains and also cleansed the altar area, whereupon he burned his body. After a month had passed, his daughter sent people to collect her father's ashes. His bodily form and bones were entirely consumed, yet amidst the ashes they found only a single tongue, its fleshy color fresh and lustrous, just as when he was alive. The Prince's son-in-law, Wei Zheng, sighed in admiration upon seeing it, and thereupon reported it to the Prince. The Prince personally viewed it and felt ever greater reverence and wonder. Even after several years had passed, it remained just as before.