弘贊法華傳 6.30

6.30

Śramaṇa Sengding was a man of unknown origin. He lived in Chanzhong Temple in Jiangyang and recited the Lotus Sūtra in its entirety. He was very fond of musical melodies, could not maintain strict discipline, and drifted into worldly vulgarities. Nevertheless, he constantly moved heavenly youths to serve him. Sometimes when he lay intoxicated, his Dharma robes would slip off his body and naturally fold themselves, while the blanket would be drawn up to neatly cover him. When his robes were soiled with mud and he had had no time to wash them, upon taking them up later, they were already fragrant and clean. At times the water jar would fill by itself, or the floor was always swept clean. With drunken eyes Ding took pleasure in spitting; once, upon sobering up from wine, he saw a heavenly youth before him, covered all over in spit. From then on he broke with his past ways and adhered to the cultivation of the precepts. Later it was not known where he ended his life.