大唐內典錄 10.66

10.66

Li Shanlong of Fengyi, Officer of the Right Gate Guard, died suddenly in the Wude era, though his heart remained warm; he revived only after seven days. He recounted: At first, when he went, he arrived before an official court where several thousand prisoners were shackled and under interrogation. He saw a great official sitting on a high seat in the hall, and asked a bystander, "What official is this?" The person said, "The King." When he reached the steps, [the King] asked, "What meritorious karma have you performed during your life?" Long said, "When villagers held gatherings, I constantly gave material offerings to join them." [The King] further asked, "What good karma have you done?" Long said, "I chanted two fascicles of the Lotus Sūtra." The King said, "Very good! You may ascend the steps to the northeast high seat and chant it." He then raised his voice and said, "Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra, Chapter One: Introductory." The King said, "Please stop, Dharma Master. When the Dharma Master just chanted the sūtra, not only did it benefit yourself, but it also caused all the prisoners in the courtyard to instantly obtain release through hearing the Dharma." The prisoners were silent and also vanished, whereupon [the King] released him to return. He saw in detail the other hells with their five sufferings in recess, which also stopped because of hearing the sūtra.