弘贊法華傳 8.23

8.23

清信士謝智藏。雍州藍田人也。雖處田家。恒持五戒。因緣暫至縣下。見寺中。有沙門講法華經。至第六持經眼耳鼻舌身意功德。乃即發心歸家。誦持第六一卷。除人事以外。不曾休息。其人心願更進餘卷。既遠居田野。無人教授。始欲棄家尋師。生業又癈。晝夜觀思遇明師。經於數年。忽見一婆羅門僧來扣藏門。謂藏曰。汝有食不。乞我一齊。智藏欣然。隨家所有。即具蔬飯。如法供設。僧既食畢。謂智藏曰。汝欲得受法華經者。可將本來。智藏歡喜。深適所願。即授其經。一從聞受。更不忘失。受經既了。僧忽不見。智藏懷思情甚惆悵。恨不識神人。自師去後。但聞異香。數日不絕。

The layman Xie Zhizang was a man of Lantian in Yongzhou. Although living in a farming household, he constantly maintained the five precepts. Once, coming briefly to the county seat due to circumstance, he saw a monk lecturing on the Lotus Sūtra in a monastery; when the lecture reached the sixth fascicle on the merits of upholding the scripture with the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind, he immediately resolved his mind, returned home, and recited and upheld the single sixth fascicle, never resting except for personal affairs. He wished in his heart to advance to the remaining fascicles, but living far in the rural fields, there was no one to instruct him. At first he wanted to leave home to seek a teacher, but his livelihood would be abandoned; day and night he contemplated meeting an enlightened teacher. After several years, he suddenly saw a Brahmin monk knock on his door, saying to Zang, "Do you have food? Give me a vegetarian meal." Zhizang rejoiced, and according to what his household had, he prepared vegetables and rice, offering it in accordance with Dharma. After the monk finished eating, he said to Zhizang, "If you wish to receive the Lotus Sūtra, bring the text." Zhizang rejoiced, finding his wish thoroughly fulfilled, and received the scripture from him; once he heard and received it, he never forgot it. When the transmission of the scripture was complete, the monk suddenly vanished. Zhizang felt deeply sorrowful, regretting that he had not recognized the spiritual being. After the master left, an extraordinary fragrance was scented for several days without ceasing.