弘贊法華傳 7.21

7.21

Shi Falang, whose secular surname was Zhang, was a native of Wucheng in Hebei. He left home [to become a monk] while young, solely cultivating austere practices. He resided at Jingdao Temple on the Southern Mountain in Pengcheng Commandery. When he was a śrāmaṇera, he recited the Lotus Sūtra. From youth to old age, his recitation and practice never flagged. At the age of fifty-three, he died in the thirteenth year of the Kaihuang reign era (593 CE). After seven days had passed, he saw King Yama. Before the king were six people of the Way. The king asked the first monk, "What virtuous deeds have you performed?" The first man replied, "I recited the Vimalakīrti Sūtra." The king said, "Cross over and stand to the south side." He asked the second monk, "What virtuous conduct have you performed?" He replied, "I recited ten rolls of the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra." The king said, "Stand also to the south side." He asked the third monk, "What virtuous deeds have you performed?" He replied, "I recited the Suvarṇaprabhāsa Sūtra." The king said, "Stand also to the south side." He asked the fourth monk, "What practice and karma have you performed?" He replied, "I expounded the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra." The king said, "Cross over and stand to the west row." He asked the fifth monk, "What virtuous conduct have you performed?" He replied, "I expounded the Daśabhūmika-śāstra." The king knit his brows and spoke, saying, "Cross over and stand to the north row." He asked the sixth, Falang, saying, "What practice and karma have you performed?" He replied, "I recited the Lotus Sūtra." The king said, "Cross over and stand to the east row." When he finished questioning the six monks, he dispatched attendants to lead those standing in the north row toward the realm of the hells; to lead those standing in the west row toward the realm of animals; and to lead the three monks in the south row toward the realm of humans. He spoke to those going to the three realms, saying, "Go, you may not return." Next, he spoke to Falang, commanding that he be led to the heavenly realm to let him see his place of rebirth, and that he might be released to return home, granting him a lifespan of eighty-five years. Falang subsequently returned from the heavenly palace, and suddenly revived. Looking at his left arm, there were faintly red characters, reading "eighty-five years of age."