大唐內典錄 10.44

10.44

Furthermore, during the Taishi era of the Song, there was Shi Huiguo of Waguan Monastery in the capital Yang[zhou]. In his youth, he regulated himself with a vegetarian diet and recited the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra and the Daśabhūmika-sūtra. Once, in front of a latrine, a ghost paid homage to him and said: 'In the past, I served as the karmadāna for the assembly of monks. Because of slight infractions against the Dharma, I fell into the state of a dung-eating ghost. May the Dharma Master be compassionate and help deliver me. Furthermore, in the past I had three thousand cash buried under a persimmon tree; I wish you would take it to generate merit.' Thereupon, Huiguo informed the assembly, dug up the cash, produced copies of the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra, and held a feast. Later, he dreamt of the ghost, who said: 'I have already attained rebirth in a better state, which far surpasses the painful retribution of former days.'