弘贊法華傳 5.14

5.14

In the household of Prince Jiang, there was a retainer whose name has been forgotten. From the age of eight or nine, he received and held the Lotus Sūtra, reciting it day and night, forgetting both sleep and food. The Prince was at that time serving as the Regional Inspector of Qizhou. The retainer thereupon wished from his heart to burn his body. He had a daughter who served the Prince and was deeply favored by him. The daughter reported the situation to the Prince, and the Prince granted it. The retainer thereupon bathed and purified himself in the mountains and also cleansed the altar area, whereupon he burned his body. After a month had passed, his daughter sent people to collect her father's ashes. His bodily form and bones were entirely consumed, yet amidst the ashes they found only a single tongue, its fleshy color fresh and lustrous, just as when he was alive. The Prince's son-in-law, Wei Zheng, sighed in admiration upon seeing it, and thereupon reported it to the Prince. The Prince personally viewed it and felt ever greater reverence and wonder. Even after several years had passed, it remained just as before.