弘贊法華傳 10.9

10.9

Monk So-and-so lost his name. During the Daye era of the Sui dynasty, he was traveling and arrived at the Mount Tai shrine, where he asked for a place to stay the night. The director of the shrine said, "There are no other quarters here; one can only lodge under the veranda of the spirit's shrine. However, those who come here to lodge usually die." The monk said, "There is no harm in it." Having no choice, the director complied, and set up a bed for him under the veranda. When night fell, the monk sat upright and recited the sūtras. Around the first watch, he heard the tinkling of pendant gems in the hall. In an instant, the deity came out and bowed down in reverence to the monk. The monk said, "I have heard that many who lodge here die; could it be that the donor harms them? I hope you will look upon me with protection and care." The deity said, "It happens that the time of their death is near at hand; hearing this disciple's voice, they simply scare themselves to death; it is not that I kill them. Please do not worry, Master." The monk invited him to sit, and they talked just like human beings. After a long while, the monk asked, "I have heard people relate that Mount Tai investigates ghosts; does such a thing truly exist?" The deity said, "This disciple, through slight merit, has charge of such matters. Would you perhaps wish to see those who have previously passed away?" The monk said, "I have two fellow-student monks who died earlier; I wish to see them." The deity asked for their names: one had already been reborn among humans, while the other was in hell, his offenses so heavy that he could not be summoned; "It would be best if I go with the Master to see him." The monk was very pleased. Thereupon, they got up together and went out the gate. Before long they arrived at a place where many wing-prisons could be seen, with flames burning intensely. The deity led the monk into a courtyard. From afar, they saw a person amidst the fire, crying out and unable to speak, his form so altered that he could no longer be recognized, while the stench of scorched flesh and blood broke one's heart. The deity said, "This is he. Does the Master wish to view any more?" Distressed and pitying, the monk asked to leave. In a moment they arrived back at the shrine and sat down again with the deity. He then asked, "If I wish to save my fellow student, is there any way?" The deity said, "It can indeed be done: if you copy the Lotus Sūtra for him, he will be delivered." As dawn approached, the deity took leave of the monk and entered the hall. At daybreak, the director of the shrine saw that the monk had not died, and marveled at it. The monk then explained it to him, and immediately set about copying one set of the Lotus Sūtra for his friend. When it was fully adorned, he again took the sūtra to the shrine to lodge for the night. That night, the deity came out as before, bowed in joy and reverence, and inquired about the purpose of his coming. The monk answered with the facts. The deity said, "This disciple already knows. When the Master copied the sūtra for him, as soon as you wrote the title, he was already delivered; he was born elsewhere long ago and is no longer here. However, this place is not clean and pure, and the sūtra should not be kept here. I hope the Master will take the sūtra back to the monastery." After talking for a long time, as it was about to dawn, he bid farewell and entered within. The monk delivered the sūtra to the monastery.