法華傳記 3.22

3.22

釋志實。姓衛常山扶柳人。道安玄族也。年七歲讀書。再覽能誦不至三。遊歷名山諮道。十七出家。學業清高。厭世無常。避眾潛于山澤取草。為如意講法華經。天雨細華。驚謂魔變。止講還入眾。夢感敬法夜叉云。汝莫懈廢。此是天降華。於功德中最勝者。無過令人聽法。佛讚五十隨喜。豈於道懈怠。實勵志講經一百遍。時隣縣有隱士。名林達眠臥。忽爾赤帽官兵驅林。林逃遁入實講堂。官馳騎到堂門外。下馬呼林云。汝既入講肆即放之。林覺起悲喜交集。故詣實師所。具說因緣。眾人伏膺焉（新錄）。

Shi Zhishi had the surname Wei, and was a native of Fuliu in Changshan, a distant descendant of Dao'an. At the age of seven he read books; upon reading them twice he could recite them, never needing a third time. He traveled to famous mountains to inquire about the Way, and at seventeen he left home. His scholastic pursuits were pure and lofty. Detesting the impermanence of the world, he avoided the crowds and hid among mountains and marshes, gathering grasses to serve as a ruyi scepter while lecturing on the Lotus Sūtra. The sky rained down fine flowers; alarmed, he suspected it was a demonic transformation, ceased lecturing, and returned to the monastic community. In a dream he was visited by a Dharma-revering yakṣa, who said: "Do not be indolent and abandon it! This was the devas raining flowers. Among all merits, none is supreme over causing people to listen to the Dharma. The Buddha praised the fiftieth rejoicer—how could you become indolent in the Path?" He spurred his resolve and lectured on the sūtra one hundred times. At that time, in a neighboring county, there was a recluse named Lin Da. While asleep, he suddenly saw officers and soldiers in red caps driving him along; Lin fled into Shi's lecture hall. The officers rode up to the hall gate on horseback, dismounted, and called to Lin: "Since you have entered the lecture hall, we release you!" Lin awoke with mixed grief and joy, and thereupon went to Master Shi's place to recount the circumstances in full. The assembly submitted to him in admiration. (Xinlu)