弘贊法華傳 6.5

6.5

In the past, at a mountain monastery in a foreign land, there was a young bhikṣu who constantly recited the Lotus. Once, while practicing walking meditation outside the monastery, he encountered a rākṣasī. The demon had transformed into a woman of exceedingly fine appearance and came to harass this bhikṣu. The bhikṣu was bewitched and subsequently had relations with her. After having relations, his spirit was in a daze, devoid of awareness. The demon carried him on her back, flying through the air, wishing to return to her original dwelling with the intent to devour him. In the first part of the night, they passed over a monastery. The bhikṣu, upon the demon's back, heard the sound of Lotus Sūtra recitation coming from within the monastery; through this, he awakened slightly, recalled what he had practiced, and recited it silently in his mind. The demon then felt him becoming heavy, and gradually descended toward the ground, ultimately unable to bear his weight, so she abandoned him and departed. After a short while, the bhikṣu awoke, heard the sound of a bell, and following the sound reached the monastery. Knocking on the gate, he begged for admittance and recounted the incident in full from beginning to end. However, it was calculated that he was already more than two thousand li away from his home district. The monks said, 'This person has committed a grave transgression; he cannot reside together with us.' An elder monk said, 'This was the bewitchment of a demon; it was not from his own mind. Since he has managed to escape, it demonstrates the mighty power of the sūtra. We may let him stay in the monastery and have him repent.' Later, when news from his home district arrived, they sent him back.