法華傳記 7.44

7.44

Anciently, in a foreign country, there was an upāsikā who made a vow and copied the Lotus Sūtra on white fine cotton. It was completed only after a summer retreat. Bearing it on the crown of her head and upholding it, she reached a certain kingdom and stayed overnight in a saṅghārāma. She recited the "Bhaiṣajyarāja" chapter, and while weeping fell asleep. When dawn arrived, she saw her body again, and it had become a man. The monastic assembly found it strange and said, "Yesterday a woman came to seek lodging; why is there a man this morning?" He replied, "Formerly I was a woman, now I am a man. It is simply because within this one body I made a vow and upheld the sūtra." None of the assembly believed him. They further asked, "From what place are you, and whose child are you?" He replied, "I am the eldest daughter of the Brahmin Sujāta in a foreign country. When I produced this sūtra in my native land, I stored ink and writing brush inside the pillar at the eastern corner of the room, and inside the moss I put a gold slip and a string of pearls. If you do not believe me, send someone to the room and you will know the truth." They immediately dispatched an envoy to inquire, and it was truly as had been said. When the parents met him, they gave rise to the thought of what is rare, and gave up the room to make it a monastery. This is the Zhangfu Monastery ("Monastery of the Man").