法華傳記 6.20

6.20

釋妙蓮。慈悲濟物特誦法華經以為業。謂師友言。吾以誦經力。生兜率內院。欲值遇慈氏。此願可不。師友答甚可。經云。若人受持讀誦。是人命終。即往兜率天上彌勒菩薩所。佛豈虛說。蓮彌勤行大精進。諷誦法華。未甞休息。生年七十有餘。微疾頓起。召請諸師友語言。吾有微疾。不為痛患。天童來迎。化佛授手。言訖而逝。端坐如生。三日方蘇曰。吾依誦法華力。至於兜率彌勒內院。諸天讚曰。汝在閻浮誦法華。功德自至此天處。奉見慈氏妙相尊。聞法早契不退忍。聞偈生喜心。慈氏菩薩告曰。爾於人間。以誦法華力故。得生此處。此處諸天。多是於釋迦遺法中。受持讀誦解說書寫妙法華經者。爾可速還下人間。接四部弟子得令聞知。暫持妙法。大銷諸罪。則用補生天之闕行也。爾時白菩薩言。以何為證。徒眾當信受。即菩薩以薰香塗蓮手。以是因緣還活。時彼手香遍滿一州。國人皆取信。作是說已。不久而卒。寺東北起塔。安置遺身。塔尚薰香。若摩觸壁。三日已上香氣不竭。現所見聞也。

Śramaṇa Miaolian took compassion and rescuing beings as his aim, and made the recitation of the Lotus Sūtra his special vocation. He said to his teachers and friends, "By the power of reciting the sūtra, I wish to be born in the Inner Court of Tuṣita and meet Maitreya. Is this vow acceptable?" His teachers and friends replied, "It is entirely acceptable. The sūtra says: 'If a person upholds, reads, and recites it, when that person's life comes to an end, he will go straight to the place of Maitreya Bodhisattva in Tuṣita Heaven.' Would the Buddha speak falsely?" Lian strove all the more diligently with great energy, chanting and reciting the Lotus without ever resting. When he was over seventy years of age, a slight illness suddenly arose. He summoned his teachers and friends and spoke to them: "I have a slight illness, but it is not a painful affliction. A heavenly youth has come to welcome me, and a transformation Buddha extends his hand." Having finished speaking, he passed away, sitting upright as if alive. After three days he revived and said: "By the power of reciting the Lotus, I reached the Tuṣita Inner Court of Maitreya. The devas praised me, saying: 'You recited the Lotus in Jambudvīpa, / And by your merit you have come of yourself to this heavenly place, / To behold the Venerable One of Wondrous Marks, Maitreya, / And hearing the Dharma, quickly realize non-retrograde forbearance.' Hearing this verse, I gave rise to a joyful mind. Maitreya Bodhisattva told me: 'Because of the power of reciting the Lotus in the human realm, you were able to be born in this place. Most of the devas here are those who, during the remaining Dharma of Śākyamuni, upheld, read, recited, explained, and copied the Wondrous Lotus Sūtra. You should quickly return down to the human realm to assist the disciples of the fourfold assembly, letting them hear and know of this. Temporarily upholding the Wondrous Dharma vastly dissolves all sins, and serves to make up for any lacking practices for birth in heaven.' At that time I said to the Bodhisattva: 'What proof can there be, so that the assembly of disciples will faithfully accept it?' The Bodhisattva then rubbed incense onto my hand. Due to these causes and conditions I returned to life." At that time, the fragrance on his hand filled the entire prefecture, and all the people of the region placed their faith in him. Having finished speaking, he passed away not long after. A stūpa was erected northeast of the temple to enshrine his bodily remains. The stūpa still smelled of incense; if one touched the wall, the fragrant scent did not dissipate for more than three days. This is what was witnessed and heard in recent times.