集神州三寶感通錄 3.28

3.28

Furthermore, in the Taishi reign era of the Song dynasty, there was the monk Huiguo of Waguan Temple in Yangzhou. From his youth he disciplined himself with vegetarian food, and recited the Lotus Sūtra and the Daśabhūmika. Once, at a privy, a ghost paid him homage, saying: 'In the past I served as karmadāna for the monastic assembly. Because I acted slightly contrary to the Dharma, I fell among the dung-eating ghosts. May the Dharma master, out of compassion, be willing to help deliver me! Furthermore, in the past I had three thousand cash, buried beneath a persimmon tree. I wish that you take it to create merit.' Thereupon Huiguo told the assembly, dug up the cash, produced copies of the Lotus Sūtra for him, and held a feast. Later, he dreamed that he saw the ghost, who said: 'I have already attained a renewed rebirth, vastly superior to the bitter retribution of former days.'