冥報記 2.3

2.3

During the Daye era of the Sui, there was an itinerant monk who traveled to the Mount Tai Shrine and sought lodging. The shrine director said, “There are no other quarters here; you can only lodge under the veranda of the spirit's shrine. However, recently, those who lodge here have invariably died.” The monk said, “There is no harm.” Having no choice, the director complied and set up a bed for him under the veranda. When night fell, the monk sat upright and recited sūtras for about one watch. He heard the tinkling sound of girdle pendants in the building. After a short while, the spirit came forth and bowed in veneration to the monk. The monk said, “I have heard that recently many who lodge here have died; could it be that the dānapati harmed them? I hope you will protect me.” The spirit said, “When they encountered their time of death about to arrive, upon hearing my voice, they died of their own terror; it was not I who killed them. Please do not worry, Master.” The monk then invited him to sit, and they talked just like ordinary people. After a long while, the monk asked, “I have heard worldly people pass on the legend that Mount Tai governs ghosts; is this truly so?” The spirit said, “Because of my meager merit, it is indeed so. Do you wish to see someone who has passed away?” The monk said, “I have two fellow monks who died earlier; I wish to see them.” The spirit asked their names and said, “One has already been born among humans; the other is in the human hell. His sins are heavy and he cannot be seen [here], but I can accompany you, Master, to go and see him.” The monk was very pleased. Thereupon, they rose together and went out the gate. After not far, they reached a place where many shrine hells were visible, with blazing flames of great intensity. The spirit led the monk into a courtyard. From afar, he saw a person amidst the fire, crying out and unable to speak, his form mutated beyond recognition, the scorch and stench of flesh and blood heartbreaking to behold. [The spirit said,] “This is he. You need not view any further, Master.” Sorrowful and pitying, the monk asked to leave. In a moment, they arrived back at the shrine and again sat together with the spirit. He then asked, “If I wish to save my fellow monk, is there any way?” The spirit said, “It can be done. If someone can copy the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra for him, he will be freed.” Soon dawn was approaching, and the spirit took leave of the monk and entered the hall. At dawn, the shrine director saw that the monk was not dead, and marvelled at it. The monk told him the whole story and immediately copied a set of the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra for the fellow monk. When the sūtra was completed and fully adorned, he again took the sūtra to the shrine to lodge. That night, the spirit emerged as before, joyfully bowing in veneration, and inquired about the purpose of his visit. The monk told him the matter. The spirit said, “I already know. When you copied the sūtra for him, as soon as you completed the title, he was already delivered and freed; now he has long been reborn elsewhere and is no longer here. However, this place is impure, and the sūtra must not be placed here. I request that you take the sūtra back to a monastery.” After talking for a long time, dawn was near, and the spirit took leave and departed. The monk took the sūtra and delivered it to a monastery. (Zhang Deyan, Administrative Assistant of Hangzhou, formerly served in Yanzhou and knew this matter in detail; he personally told it to Tang Lin thus.)