法苑珠林 18.32

18.32

South of the capital of the Tang, on the north bank of the Fushui River, in the village of Shi, there was Shi Hexi, who recited the Lotus Sūtra. He held the office of a clerk (lingshi). When going back and forth, he traveled on foot and never rode an animal in his entire life, because he relied on the sūtra's words to "have compassion for all beings." When he died of illness in his native village, a fragrance filled the village; clergy and laity were astonished, but could not fathom the cause. Ten years after his death, his wife also died; so they opened the tomb to bury them together, and saw that the root of his tongue was like the flesh of a living person. Thereupon the assembly collected and reburied it.