釋門自鏡錄 2.38

2.38

釋弘明本姓羸。會稽山陰人。少出家貞苦有戒節。誦法華經習禪定。明甞於雲門見一小兒來聽明誦經。問曰。汝是何人。答云。昔是此寺沙彌。為盜僧飲食。今墮廁中。願助方便使免斯累。明即說法勸化。領解方隱。

Shi Hongming's original surname was Lei. He was a native of Shanyin in Kuaiji. Having left home as a youth, he lived an austere life of chaste discipline and observed the precepts rigorously. He recited the Lotus Sūtra and practiced meditation. Once, at Yunmen, Ming saw a young boy come to listen to him recite the sūtra. Ming asked, "Who are you?" The boy replied, "In a past life, I was a novice at this monastery. Because I stole food and drink belonging to the saṃgha, I have now fallen into the latrine. I pray that you will lend me expedient means to free me from this burden." Ming thereupon expounded the Dharma to exhort and transform him, and only after the boy understood did he disappear.