法華傳記 4.62

4.62

釋智嶷。姓康本康居王胤也。國難東歸魏。封于襄陽。因累居之十餘世矣。七歲初學。尋一乘文。究竟無師。自悟敬重佛宗。雖書權俗緣。令依學侶。而夜私誦法華。竟文純熟。二親初不知也。十三拜辭。即蒙剃落。更諮大部情因彌著二十有四。方受具足。嶷住寺多年。專心諷誦法華。常思定慧。非大要事。不出戶庭。故往參候。罕覩其面。諷誦入曉更。化人現前。安慰其人。誦及千部。千佛共守護。若及萬部。必生淨國。聞是語已。歡喜彌勵其志。即世七十有餘矣。

Śramaṇa Zhiyi was surnamed Kang, originally a descendant of the King of Kangju. Due to turmoil in his country, he migrated east to the Wei and was enfeoffed in Xiangyang, where his family resided for more than ten generations. At the age of seven, when he began his studies, he examined the texts of the Eka-yāna, penetrating them without a teacher; he awakened on his own and came to deeply revere the Buddhist teaching. Although his family engaged him in mundane studies according to worldly customs, having him follow fellow students, at night he secretly recited the Lotus Sūtra until he was completely fluent with the text, while his parents were initially unaware. At thirteen, he took his leave, made prostrations, and was permitted to receive tonsure. He then inquired into the great scriptures, his affinity deepening even further. At twenty-four, he received the full precepts. Yi stayed at the temple for many years, dedicating his mind to chanting and reciting the Lotus and constantly contemplating samādhi and prajñā. Unless it was of great urgency, he never stepped outside his door; hence those who went to pay respects rarely saw his face. Once, reciting until dawn, a transformed person appeared before him, comforting him and saying: "If one recites it up to a thousand times, a thousand Buddhas will jointly protect and guard him; if one reaches ten thousand times, he will certainly be born in a pure land." Having heard these words, he rejoiced and redoubled his resolve. He passed away at over seventy years of age.