法華傳記 9.4

9.4

Anciently, when the Buddha was in the world, there was a person named the woman Prabhāvatī. Originally, through hearing the Lotus Sūtra, this person was born at the end of her life in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven. Her parents gathered her bones and erected a stūpa to make offerings. At that time, their celestial child saw them with her divine eye, descended, and addressed her parents, saying: "I was your child. During my life, I heard the Lotus Sūtra once. Nor did I go to hear it of my own accord; I only accompanied others who led me along to hear the Lotus Sūtra, and so I took an accompanying seat for a short while to hear the Dharma. Relying on this good cause, I was able to be born in heaven." Her parents did not believe it, and asked further: "How can we know that you are our child?" At that time, the celestial child said: "Inside my chest, ten pieces of white jade given by my parents were placed. You may know me by these things." At that time, the parents opened the chest and saw that, just as the deva had said, ten pieces of white jade were stored inside. The celestial child said: "One who was urged by another to hear it was still born in heaven; how much more so those who personally advance to hear it, or recite and chant it themselves! Fortunately, I hope my parents will do as I have done." Then she suddenly disappeared. At that time, the parents, longing for their child's virtue, practiced diligence together, and were born in that heaven. (From the Yaoji.)