弘贊法華傳 8.16

8.16

有俗士揚難及者。本縣人也。幼而耿介。不雜凡遊。年將知命。方祈妙典。聞誠有道。遂師事焉。誠乃授以法華。數月之間。悉得通利。勵精翫習。曉夜忘疲。雖涉眾務。其聲不輟。於後。無疾奄然而終。終後焚燒。髏舌獨在。誠因收舉。藏之石函。置法華堂。時加供養。屢聞函內諷誦之聲。振動石函。詞句明了。聞者敬悚。知受持之力焉。

There was a layman named Yang Nanji, a fellow county man. From youth he was resolutely upright and did not mingle in worldly socializing. Approaching the age of fifty (knowing the Mandate of Heaven), he first sought the marvelous scripture. Hearing that Facheng possessed the Way, he served him as a master. Cheng then transmitted the Lotus Sūtra to him, and within a few months, he achieved complete fluency. Striving with diligence to study and practice, he forgot fatigue day and night; although he was involved in numerous affairs, his voice did not stop. Later, he died suddenly without any illness. After his death he was cremated, but his skull and tongue alone remained intact. Cheng collected them, stored them in a stone casket, placed it in the Lotus Hall, and made periodic offerings. He repeatedly heard the sound of recitation from inside the casket, vibrating the stone casket with words and phrases completely clear. Those who heard it felt awe and respect, knowing the power of receiving and upholding [the sūtra].