集神州三寶感通錄 3.60

3.60

On the twentieth day of the sixth month in the third year of the Longshuo era, Cui Yiqi, Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices (Siyuan Shaochangbo), had great disbelief in the Buddha. His wife's father, Xiao Keng, was mindful of goodness and had recited sūtras—the Lotus and Prajñā—several thousand times, never allowing pungent herbs or alcohol into his gate. Cui Yiqi's wife died in the fifth month; while holding the third seven-day fast for her, just as they were eating, the deceased wife arrived. A maidservant named Suyu saw her and spoke in the lady's voice: "When I was alive, although I heard of the hells, I did not truly believe; now my suffering is unspeakable. You, my sons and daughters, cannot fail to believe! Because you rolled the sūtras and lit lamps for me, by that merit I was granted leave to return briefly." She then confessed and repented before the assembly: "On the twentieth day, I shall come again to take Suyu to witness my punishment." When the time arrived, she indeed came and took Suyu away. They saw a great walled official city; the lady entered a separate courtyard, and in an instant, cauldrons of fire and iron beds all arrived, and the lady endured torment. Suddenly, they saw the lady's father, Lord Xiao, sitting upon a lotus dais, saying to the lady, "Release Suyu early to return." He also told Suyu: "When my daughter was alive, she did not heed my words; she was full of anger and jealousy, and did not believe in good and evil. Now she suffers this agony, and I have no power to rescue her. When you return, tell her husband, sons, and daughters to cultivate merit; before long she will be liberated." She also saw a brāhmaṇa monk descend from the sky, who taught Suyu to recite the Diamond Prajñā, and also to recite the Bhaiṣajyaguru and Lotus Sūtras once or twice; she was able to change her name to Śrāvaka. He also said, "The people of Jambudvīpa do not believe in the Buddha's Dharma; you shall recite this sūtra." When questioned, the brāhmaṇa also explained the words of the sūtra. After being dead for three days, the maid revived. The household, noble and base alike, treated her as usual at first. In the first month of the first year of the Linde era, a vegetarian feast was set up at General Xue's residence; they welcomed the maid and invited three brāhmaṇa monks carrying Buddha-uṣṇīṣa relics to test her. Suyu mounted the high seat and chanted at length without a single omission. All joined their palms and sighed in admiration, saying, "It is no different from the original text of the Western Countries!" The entire assembly was astonished at this rare and extraordinary affair. General Xue then reported it orally to