弘贊法華傳 7.18

7.18

Śramaṇa Baotong, whose family background is not known, was a native of Gaokuang. He had no other doctrinal understanding, only reciting several spells from the seventh fascicle of the Lotus Sūtra. Yet he suddenly began to see spirits and ghosts of his own accord. There was a woman of the Zhao family in Yangqiao Village who was possessed by the village deity. When Baotong passed by the deity's shrine, the deity arose to welcome him and invited him to sit. Baotong said to the deity, "Dwelling near a human village, you ought to bring them benefit; why do you continue to possess another's wife?" The deity said, "It is not this disciple's fault; this was done by my subordinates. I will punish them for you." He immediately dispatched petty officers, who brought the possessing spirit to the courtyard, where they flogged him a hundred times until blood flowed. Because of this, the Zhao woman was cured. Baotong also asked the deity, "Is that deity of Bailu Village related to you or not?" The deity said, "He is also related." Baotong said, "In that village there is a woman of the Hao family who is possessed by that village's deity. Can you make her recover?" The deity said, "It can be done." He immediately sent for the deity of Bailu Village and likewise flogged him a hundred times. The Hao woman soon recovered. Later on, the old affliction of Zhao's wife flared up again, singing and chanting all day. The head of the household informed Baotong, and when Baotong went there, he saw the previously flogged deity beside the sick woman. Baotong said to him, "Previously you said you would leave forever; how can you come now? I shall recite the spells!" The deity then kowtowed, begging for mercy to be allowed to return: "Do not trouble yourself with the spells!" The deity thereupon departed far away, and she was permanently cured as a result.