弘贊法華傳 6.6

6.6

Shi Baozhuang, also called Fazhuang, had the secular surname of Shen and was a native of Huainan. In the Taiyuan era of the Jin, when he was just ten years of age, he went to Master Yuan of Mount Lu to become his disciple. In his youth, he made a name for himself through austere discipline. At the beginning of the Yuanjia era, he stayed at Daochang Monastery in Moling; his religious practice was refined and austere, and he constantly recited the Lotus. Whenever he recited it, he would always put on clean robes, occupy a separate seat, burn incense, join his palms, and focus his thoughts on Vulture Peak; only then would he slowly emit elegant tones, thoroughly pronouncing every word and sentence. When his chanting was half finished, the adjoining room would hear outside Zhuang's door sounds like those of weapons and royal guards; precious heavenly spirits had come to listen. Early in the Daming era of the Song, he died at the monastery, at the age of seventy-six.