法華傳記 5.20

5.20

隋開皇初。有揚州僧。忘其名。自誦通涅槃經一部。謂多誦自矜為業。時岐州東山下村中有沙彌。誦觀世音經。二人俱暴死。心下俱暖。同至閻王所。乃處沙彌金高座。甚恭敬之。處涅槃僧銀高座。敬心不重。事訖勘問。二俱餘壽。皆放還。彼涅槃僧。情大恨恨。恃所誦多。門下沙彌住處。於是兩辭。各蘇所在。彼從南來至岐州。訪得具問所由。沙彌言。初誦觀音。別衣別所。燒香呪願。然後乃誦。斯法不怠。更無他術。彼謝曰。吾罪深矣。所謂涅槃威儀不整。身口不淨。救忘而已。古人遺言。多惡不如少善。於今取驗。悔往而返云。

At the beginning of the Kaihuang era of the Sui, there was a monk from Yangzhou whose name has been forgotten. He had recited the entire Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra until fluent, and, boasting of having recited so much, took pride in it as his achievement. At that time, in a village below Dongshan in Qizhou, there was a śrāmaṇera who recited the Avalokiteśvara-sūtra. Both men died suddenly, while the region below their hearts remained warm, and together they arrived at the dwelling of King Yama. [The king] placed the śrāmaṇera on a high golden seat, treating him with great reverence, but placed the Nirvāṇa monk on a high silver seat, with less reverence. When the proceedings were finished and they were interrogated, both still had remaining years of life, and were both released to return. That Nirvāṇa monk was filled with deep resentment; relying on having recited more, he asked where the śrāmaṇera lived. Thereupon, bidding farewell, each revived in his respective place. Coming from the south, he arrived in Qizhou, sought [the śrāmaṇera] out, and questioned him thoroughly about the cause. The śrāmaṇera said: "When beginning to recite the Avalokiteśvara[-sūtra], I put on special robes and go to a special place, burn incense, and make vows; only then do I recite. I never grow lax in this method, and there is no other secret." That [monk] apologized, saying: "My sins are grave indeed! With what I called the Nirvāṇa, my deportment was irregular, my body and mouth were impure, and I merely sought to avoid forgetting it. An ancient saying has been passed down: 'Many bad deeds are not as good as a few good ones.' Today this has been verified." Repenting of his past, he returned.