釋門自鏡錄 2.87

2.87

江寧盧府巷。有一俗僧。好賭博衣物蕩盡止。存銅彌勒佛一軀。高二尺許。貿與回子。復銀三金。回子夜舁像至家。以大鐵鎚擊佛頭。堅硬不動。迸出火星。回子曰。想頭頂銅厚。乃擊肚腹。彌勒忽開口。出聲大咲。回子驚倒。叩頭謝罪。明日香華鼓吹送還本菴。主僧旋遁。得惡疾而死。

In Lufu Lane of Jiangning, there was a corrupt monk who loved gambling and squandered all his belongings, retaining only a bronze image of Maitreya Buddha about two feet tall. He sold it to a Muslim for three silver coins. At night, the Muslim carried the statue home and struck the Buddha's head with a large iron hammer; it was hard and unyielding, sending sparks flying. The Muslim said, 'I suppose the bronze at the crown is thick,' and proceeded to strike the abdomen. Maitreya suddenly opened his mouth and laughed out loud. The Muslim fell down in terror, kowtowing to beg for forgiveness. The next day, with incense, flowers, and music, he returned it to its original hermitage. The resident monk soon fled, contracted an evil disease, and died.