法華傳記 4.24

4.24

釋弘明。本姓羸會稽山陰人。少出家貞苦有戒節。止山陰雲門寺。誦法華習禪定。精懃禮懺。六時不輟。每旦則水瓶自滿。實諸天童子。以為給使也。明甞於雲門。坐禪及誦經。見一小兒來聽明誦經。明曰。汝是何人。答云。昔此寺沙彌。為盜飲食。今墮圊中。聞上人道業故。來聽誦經。願助方便。使免斯累也。明即說法勸化。領解方隱。又虎來入明室內。伏于床前。見明聞經。端然不動。久之廼去。後於永興石姥巖入定。又有山精來惱明。明投得以腰繩繫之。鬼遜謝求脫云。後不敢復來及解放於是絕迹。以齊永明中卒。

Śramaṇa Hongming, originally surnamed Lei, was a native of Shanyin in Kuaiji. He left household life at an early age, upright and austere, possessing strict vinaya discipline. He resided at Yunmen Temple in Shanyin, reciting the Lotus Sūtra and practicing dhyāna meditation. Diligent and devoted in worship and repentance, he did not cease throughout the six periods of the day. Every morning, his water bottle would fill itself; in truth, heavenly youths served as his attendants. Once, while sitting in meditation and reciting sūtras at Yunmen, Ming saw a young boy come to listen to his recitation. Ming asked: 'Who are you?' He replied: 'In the past, I was a śrāmaṇera in this temple. Because I stole food and drink, I have now fallen into the privy. Hearing of your religious practice, Venerable Sir, I came to listen to your sūtra recitation, praying that you will aid me through expedient means to be freed from this burden.' Ming immediately preached the Dharma to instruct and transform him; only after the boy grasped and understood did he vanish. Also, a tiger once entered Ming's chamber and crouched before his bed; seeing Ming and hearing the sūtra, it remained upright and motionless, only leaving after a long time. Later, while entering samādhi at the Old Stone Crag in Yongxing, a mountain spirit came to trouble Ming. Ming seized it and bound it with his waist cord. The ghost apologized humbly and begged for release, saying: 'Hereafter I dare not return.' When it was untied and released, it vanished without a trace. Ming died in the midst of the Yongming era of the Qi.