弘贊法華傳 6.25

6.25

Wang Yan, courtesy name Gongyuan, was a man of Linzu in Langye. His grandfather, Wang Fen, was Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. His father, Wang Lin, was Left Chief Clerk to the Minister of Education. Yan was born of the Senior Princess. He rose in official rank to Gentleman of the Yellow Gates and Grand Administrator of Xin'an. He focused his mind on the Buddha's way, without laxity morning or evening. He had maintained the recitation of the Lotus Sūtra for accumulated years. His eighth brother, Gu, also ate a vegetarian diet and recited the Lotus Sūtra. When Yan died, he appeared in a dream to Gu, saying: 'I have gained rebirth in the Western Land of Immeasurable Life, born by womb within a lotus flower of iron leaves; only after five hundred years will I be able to emerge from the womb and behold the Buddha. Because my ascetic striving in reciting the Lotus Sūtra was consummate, I gained rebirth in the West; because I was foolish and full of doubts, I received a womb-birth. Now I must bid you farewell; I have reported this to let you know, so that you will not be lax in reciting the sūtra.'