法苑珠林 95.43

95.43

晉南郡議曹椽姓歐。得病經年骨消肉盡。巫醫備至無復方計。其子夜如得睡眠。夢見數沙門。來視其父。明旦便往詣佛圖見諸沙門。問佛為何神。沙門為說事狀。便將諸道人歸請讀經。再宿病人自覺病如輕。晝得小眠。如舉頭見門中有數十小兒。皆五綵衣。手中有持幡仗者。刀矛者。於門走入。有兩小兒在前。徑至簾前。忽便還走語後眾人。小住小住。屋中純是道人。遂不復來前。自此後病漸漸得差（右此一驗出靈鬼志）。

During the Jin dynasty, an Assistant Officer of the Consultative Section in Nanjun surnamed Ou fell ill for over a year, his flesh wasting away to bone. Sorcerers and doctors were exhausted, with no further methods or remedies. His son fell into a light sleep at night and dreamed of several śramaṇas coming to look at his father. The next morning, he went to a Buddhist stūpa-monastery and saw various śramaṇas. He asked what kind of spirit the Buddha was, and the śramaṇas explained the matter to him. He then brought the religious men back and requested them to recite sūtras. After two nights, the patient felt his illness lighten. During the day, he took a brief nap and seemed to lift his head to see dozens of small children at the doorway, all in five-colored clothes; some held banners and staffs, and some held knives and spears, rushing in through the doorway. Two children in front went straight to the curtain, but suddenly ran back and said to the crowd behind: 'Wait a moment, wait a moment! The room is completely filled with men of the Way!' Thereupon they did not come forward again. From this time on, the illness gradually improved. (This verification is from the Linggui zhi.)