弘贊法華傳 6.32

6.32

釋正則。不知何許人也。宿植芳因。早敦信悟。落采之後。即誦法華。甞與治城寺素法師。一夏同住。素。于時為人講法華經。夜須看讀而燈滅。欲出外取火。聞則師誦法華經。聲韻甚高。意稍嫌之。欲過語則。開戶舉簾將出。乃見滿寺人馬。帶甲持鉾。或坐或立。向則房看。素。於是不復敢出。退還所住。須臾斷契。又更舉簾。仍見向者人馬。立在空中。驗知是天神來聽。明日以問。則云。昨夜誦經。不覺聲高。但弄快耳。素後每向人讚說。聞者增信。

Śramaṇa Zhengze was a man of unknown origin. Having planted fragrant causes in past lives, he attained faith and awakening early. After shaving his hair, he immediately recited the Lotus Sūtra. He once spent a summer retreat living together with Dharma Master Su of Zhicheng Temple. At that time, Su was lecturing on the Lotus Sūtra for others; at night he needed to read, but his lamp went out. Intending to go outside to fetch fire, he heard Master Ze reciting the Lotus Sūtra in a very loud, resonant voice. In his mind he was somewhat annoyed, and wished to go over and speak to Ze. Opening the door and lifting the curtain to go out, he saw the entire temple filled with men and horses, clad in armor and holding halberds, some sitting and some standing, looking toward Ze's room. Su thereupon did not dare go out again, and retreated back to where he stayed. In a short while, as the recitation paused, he lifted the curtain once more, and still saw those same men and horses, standing in midair. This confirmed that they were heavenly deities who had come to listen. When he asked him about it the next day, Ze said, 'Last night while reciting the sūtra, I was unaware that my voice was loud; I was simply rejoicing in the swift flow of the recitation.' Su afterward frequently praised him to others, and those who heard grew in faith.