法華傳記 3.8

3.8

Shi Long, Dharma Master, was of unknown origin. During the Zhenguan era, he travelled along the northern route and set out for North India, seeking to exhort and convert beings. Later, in Central India, he memorized a Sanskrit manuscript of the Lotus Sūtra. Arriving in Gandhāra, he himself began to lecture on it; people gathered in clouds from the four quarters, and gazed toward him like stars from myriad commanderies. Later he fell ill and died, but revived after three days, saying: "I saw the Heavenly Son Yama, who asked: 'What merit does the religious man possess?' I answered: 'I memorized the Lotus Sūtra and opened a lecture hall myself to exhort and convert sentient beings.' The king said: 'Reading and reciting is genuine; lecturing and expounding is superficial and empty, merely making distinctions according to one's thoughts—how could it surpass [recitation's] merit?' I replied: 'Reading and reciting are concentrated on oneself; lecturing and expounding constitute the gift of wisdom. Benefiting beings is the aspiration of a bodhisattva—how could it be superficial and devoid of merit?' Overjoyed, the king descended from his seat, knelt upright, and said: 'Excellent, excellent! Ascend the seat and explain its meaning.' Thereupon Long mounted the high seat, proclaimed the title, and unfolded the doctrine. The sinners in the hall were freed from suffering and gained bliss wherever Long's voice reached; their cangues and fetters fell away on their own, and some were reborn among humans and devas. The king said: 'Cease, cease! Your life is not yet spent; return to your original body.' Following the road back, I was restored to life." One should know that the Saddharma is the essential practice for humans and devas, and the direct path to bodhi. Concentrate your mind and practice with single-mindedness; do not be negligent! Those who heard this shed tears, and their respectful faith increased all the more. All who saw or heard him abandoned the Hīnayāna and took refuge in the Mahāyāna. A monk from the north arrived and related this tale. (Taken from the Qiufa xinlu. Although the Tang gaoseng zhuan also records Master Long's story, the account is not detailed; here we follow the expanded text.)