法華傳記 6.18

6.18

尼法空者。俗姓韓氏。宣州人也。幼歲辭親。詣五臺山西南百餘里建安寺出家。後於祇洹寺受戒。每誦法華。用為常務。傳聞。有僧道超。別無行業。但久住五臺山華嚴寺。不出山門二十餘載。其後命終。生都率內院。時天人語超曰。汝於人間。別無行業。祇誦法華。承文殊境界力故。得生此天。汝可還下人間接四部得令聞知。道超依言不捨天報。下告人間。法空如此。思惟生希有難遭心。發願然後至華嚴寺西北三泉院。前林中更逢一老人。謂法空曰。汝寄住此。修行妙法。決證勝果。言訖遂不見。法空知大聖告。悲泣渧淚。即依此院。別結草庵。居止策勵三業。曉夕靡怠。經五年取身所著衣。令弟子悉送常住施大眾。法空曰。我從止此來。蒙大聖告。語教示妙法蓮華四字。開佛知見。清淨無染。得生淨土。眾各努力。無得空過。言訖而卒。端坐如生。眾茶毘收舍利千餘粒。四眾分之供養而已。

The nun Fakong had the secular surname Han and was a native of Xuanzhou. In her youth she took leave of her parents, went to Jian'an Temple over a hundred li southwest of Mount Wutai, and renounced household life. Later she received the precepts at Jeta Temple. She made the constant recitation of the Lotus Sūtra her regular practice. Tradition relates that there was a monk named Daochao who had no other religious practice, but merely lived for a long time at Huayan Temple on Mount Wutai, not leaving the mountain gate for over twenty years. Later, when his life came to an end, he was born into the Inner Court of Tuṣita. At that time, a deva said to Chao, "In the human realm you had no other religious practice, but merely recited the Lotus; by relying on the power of Mañjuśrī's realm, you were able to be born in this heaven. You may return down to the human realm to assist the fourfold assembly, letting them hear and know of this." Following these words and without abandoning his heavenly retribution, Daochao descended to inform those in the human realm. When Fakong [heard of] this, she reflected upon it, produced a mind that recognized how rare and difficult it was to encounter, and made vows. Thereafter she went to the Sanquan Cloister, northwest of Huayan Temple. In the woods before it she met an old man, who said to Fakong, "If you lodge here and practice the Wondrous Dharma, you are certain to realize the supreme fruit." Having finished speaking, he disappeared. Fakong knew it was the announcement of a great sage; weeping tears of sorrow, she built a separate thatched hermitage in dependence on this cloister. Living there, she spurred on the three actions, never slacking morning or night. After five years, she took the garments she wore on her body and instructed her disciples to send them all to the communal property of the monastery as gifts for the great assembly. Fakong said, "Since I came to abide here, I have received the announcement of a great sage, who taught and revealed the four characters 'Wondrous Dharma Lotus' (Miao Fa Lian Hua), opening the Buddha's knowledge and vision, pure and undefiled, so that I shall be born in the Pure Land. Strive diligently, all of you; do not pass your time in vain!" Having finished speaking, she passed away, sitting upright as if alive. The assembly cremated her and collected over a thousand grains of śarīra; the fourfold assembly divided them and made offerings to them.