法華傳記 9.28

9.28

Xu Gaosi of Liquan County had a young son. At seven years of age, he received the five precepts and became a novice, serving a venerable monk as his teacher. A physiognomist saw the novice and said: "This novice is intelligent and keen, endowed with all physical marks, but his life will be short." Hearing this, his parents were grieved and troubled. On account of an errand, the novice went to a neighboring county. Encountering rain, he entered a vihāra, where a monk was reciting the Lotus Sūtra. Hearing the sūtra, the novice rejoiced and said to the monk: "I shall bid farewell to my parents and come follow the master in service." When the rain stopped, he left the monastery. Three days after arriving home, the previous physiognomist was still there. Seeing the novice, he said: "Your proper lifespan has now become more than ninety years; what extraordinary technique do you have?" The novice said: "My mind took delight in hearing the sūtra; apart from this, there was nothing else." The physiognomist said: "Excellent! The Mahāyāna possesses inconceivable power; those who hear it will have their lifespan extended."