法華傳記 8.36

8.36

齊太祖高帝道成。姓蕭偏崇重佛。故造陟屺止觀二寺。四月八日。常鑄金像。七月十五日。普寺造盆供。僧三百。自以香汁和墨。手寫法華經八部金字法華二部。皆五香厨四寶遂盛。靜夜良辰清齋行道。每放金色光。照耀殿內。諸侯皆共視。倍更發心。相議。我等結二十八人。各各造一品。莊嚴奇麗。七月十五日。就止觀寺。須供養禮拜。即如僉議。當於供日。天雨細華。如雲母而下。琉璃軸放光。照一里餘。眾皆歡喜。中有特進士。七十有八頓悶絕。良久起居。歡喜流淚。吾如夢見自身。左右有羽翼。飛到天上。即兜率宮前入內院。彌勒告曰。高帝并諸侯。皆來我所。法華力耳。汝還人間。宜告此事。即特飛下見羽翼。是法華一品。諸君莫懈怠。王臣彌發信心焉。

Daocheng, Emperor Gao and Taizu of the Qi, was surnamed Xiao. He especially venerated the Buddha; therefore, he built the two monasteries of Zhiqi and Zhiguan. On the eighth day of the fourth month, he would regularly cast golden statues. On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, he would make avalambana bowl offerings in all monasteries for three hundred monks. Mixing ink with fragrant juices himself, he personally copied eight sets of the Lotus Sūtra and two sets of the gold-lettered Lotus Sūtra. They were all kept in cases of five fragrances and four treasures. On quiet nights and auspicious occasions, observing pure fasts and circumambulating in practice, they would frequently emit golden light, illuminating the inside of the palace hall. The various lords all beheld it together, and their faith was doubly aroused. They conferred together: "Let us form an association of twenty-eight persons, each producing one chapter, adorned exquisitely. On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, we will go to Zhiguan Monastery to make offerings and bow in worship." It was carried out just as they had agreed. On the day of the offering, fine celestial flowers rained down like mica, and the lapis lazuli rollers emitted light that illuminated over a li. The assembly all rejoiced. Among them, a Specially Advanced Gentleman of seventy-eight suddenly fell unconscious. After a long while he revived, wept tears of joy, and said: "I seemed in a dream to see myself with wings on my left and right, flying up to heaven. Reaching the front of the Tuṣita Palace, I entered the Inner Court. Maitreya told me: 'Emperor Gao and the various lords are all coming to my abode; it is solely due to the power of the Lotus Sūtra. When you return to the human world, you should proclaim this matter.' Then I flew down, and seeing my wings, they were a single chapter of the Lotus Sūtra. Gentlemen, do not be remiss!" The kings and ministers were further inspired with faith.