弘贊法華傳 8.19

8.19

The layman Shi Hexi lived in Fenggu Village southwest of the capital. From youth he harbored good thoughts, constantly recited the Lotus Sūtra, practiced the peaceful practices, and kept compassion in mind. He did not ride animals, keeping an attitude of seeing things as empty and illusory. He was appointed as a senior clerk (lingshi) and traveled back and forth between the capital ministries. Because of his continuous recitation, he feared meeting acquaintances on the road and wasting his recitation on worldly pleasantries about the weather; thus he always traveled along small paths, lowering his voice and keeping a joyful expression, maintaining continuous mindfulness. When he died, an extraordinary and rare fragrance filled the lanes of the village. Ten years later, when his wife exhumed him for reburial, only his tongue was fresh and fine, while the rest was completely decayed. It was then marked out specially. Moreover, Śramaṇa Daozheng was a monk of Baima Monastery in Jinling. He also recited the Lotus Sūtra. After his death, when his body was cremated, a tongue was found amidst the ashes, completely intact. Monastics and laypeople all praised it.