弘贊法華傳 7.4

7.4

高齊時有僧。失其名。在靈巖寺東林。誦法華經。每精誠懇到。中表潔淨。焚香禮佛。以求證驗。初有大蛇及雉鹿等。俱來立聽。誦訖乃散。中時即山神將食。自來供養。後忽見光明。從東山而下。有大菩薩。乘六牙白象。大眾圍繞。直至其前。僧望光禮拜。慶悅深至。疑義闕文。皆為敷釋。餘眾但聞異香。經久方隱。

During the Northern Qi period, there was a monk whose name has been lost, who recited the Lotus Sūtra in the Eastern Forest of Lingyan Monastery. On every occasion, with utmost sincerity and devotion, purified internally and externally, he would burn incense and pay homage to the Buddha to seek confirmation and verification. At first, there were large snakes, pheasants, deer, and the like that all came to stand and listen, dispersing only when the recitation was completed. At midday, the mountain deity would personally bring food to offer him. Later, he suddenly saw a bright light descending from the eastern mountain: there was a great bodhisattva riding a six-tusked white elephant, surrounded by a great assembly, who came straight before him. The monk looked toward the light and bowed down, his joy and delight being profound and extreme. Obscure meanings and missing passages were all expounded and explained for him. The rest of the assembly only smelled an extraordinary fragrance, which disappeared only after a long time.