法苑珠林 6.73

6.73

Zheng Xianzhi of Xingyang, Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs under the Song, accompanied the imperial cortege on an inspection of the capital in the fourth year of the Yuanjia reign era (427). On the evening of arriving in the capital, he died suddenly. Then a spirit spoke through a possessed person, saying: “My lifespan had long been exhausted and I should have passed away early on. Relying on my reverent faith in the Buddha-Dharma, releasing living creatures, and practicing generosity over recent years, by these merits my life was extended by several years. The retribution of the unseen and manifest realms is like shadow and echo; one should cast aside worldly affairs and revere the Great Teaching.” At that time, many of the eminent and noble heard of this. (The above three verifications are from the Mingbao ji.)