法華傳記 2.32

2.32

Shi Sengdao was a native of the Capital Region (Jingzhao). At the age of ten, he went forth into the monastic life and studied under a master. His master handed him the Guanshiyin Sūtra. Having finished reading it, he consulted his master: 'How many fascicles are in the sūtra before this?' His master, wishing to test him, then said: 'There is only this.' Dao said: 'At the beginning it says, "At that time, Inexhaustible Mind..."; therefore I know there must already have been matters before this.' His master was greatly pleased, and conferred upon him the complete Lotus Sūtra. Thereupon, day and night he examined and investigated it, roughly understanding the text and meaning. Being poor without oil or candles, he would constantly gather firewood to illuminate his reading. By the age of eighteen, he had read widely and often served as chief interlocutor (dujiang), making the lecturing on the Lotus Sūtra his sole pursuit. (Extracted from the Lecture Records; the current biography does not state that lecturing on the Lotus Sūtra was his sole pursuit.)