弘贊法華傳 7.4

7.4

During the Northern Qi period, there was a monk whose name has been lost, who recited the Lotus Sūtra in the Eastern Forest of Lingyan Monastery. On every occasion, with utmost sincerity and devotion, purified internally and externally, he would burn incense and pay homage to the Buddha to seek confirmation and verification. At first, there were large snakes, pheasants, deer, and the like that all came to stand and listen, dispersing only when the recitation was completed. At midday, the mountain deity would personally bring food to offer him. Later, he suddenly saw a bright light descending from the eastern mountain: there was a great bodhisattva riding a six-tusked white elephant, surrounded by a great assembly, who came straight before him. The monk looked toward the light and bowed down, his joy and delight being profound and extreme. Obscure meanings and missing passages were all expounded and explained for him. The rest of the assembly only smelled an extraordinary fragrance, which disappeared only after a long time.