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Lotus Sutra Stories
S015Peace & Well-being

Fazhi and the Listening Pheasant: Seven Years of Listening, Three Feathers Under the Arm

Person:Fazhi (and the listening pheasant / the future Tanyi)

Period:Eastern Jin (Yuhang)

The first half of the same lineage story as Tanyi (S016).

Reading preferences

事見《法華經顯應錄》「高僧」門「餘杭志法師」條。《持驗記》曇翼條(本站 S016)以此事為引子而敘從略。以下白話譯註依《顯應錄》。

故事

東晉時,有僧法志,在餘杭山中結菴,日日誦《法華經》,朝夕不懈。

有一隻野雉,在菴旁築了巢。每當聽到誦經之聲,牠就飛翔而下,集在法志座旁,像侍立聽受的樣子——如此七年,一日不輟。

一天,雉忽然憔悴不起。法志撫摸著牠說:「你雖是羽族,卻能聽經。若能脫去這業報之軀,必當生於人道。」

第二天清晨,雉便命終了。法志把牠安葬。

當夜,法志方才假寐,夢見一個童子向他再拜,說:「我就是那隻雉。因為聽師誦經,得以脫離羽類之身,如今投生到山前王氏家中為男子。我的右腋下還留著雉鳥的絨毛,可以驗證。」

法志次日清晨到王家探問,果然如此。

後來王氏設齋,法志登門,這孩子一見便說:「我的和尚來了!」滿座皆驚。法志撫著他說:「這是我的雉兒。」解開衣服,遍視腋下,果然有三莖雉毛。

孩子七歲時,該當出家,父母應允。至期入山,十六歲落髮。因為腋下有毳毛,為他命名「曇翼」。授他《蓮經》,他一字不忘。法志歸寂之後,曇翼便成為此山的第二代祖師。

編者省思

這是本站全部故事中,關於「聽經功德」最完整的一則閉環:聽經七年 → 預記(撫摸授記語)→ 捨報 → 夢證 → 胎記驗證(腋下三莖雉毳)→ 命名(曇翼)→ 授經不遺一字 → 傳位第二祖。每一個環節都有可指認的「物證」與「人證」,這正是此類記載在民間流傳不衰的原因。

「此我雉兒耳」一句,是全篇的感情錨點——一句話認回七年的緣分。讀者不必追究其歷史真實性;作為宗教文獻,它表達的是古人對「法音所被、異類得度」的深切信念。

The Bodhisattva Never Disparaging: "I Dare Not Disparage You" — Read story

The Bodhisattva Never Disparaging: "I Dare Not Disparage You"

The monk Never Disparaging (a previous incarnation of Śākyamuni Buddha)Remote past, within the Lotus Sutra narrative (during the semblance-dharma of Buddha Bhīṣmagarjitasvara)

As told in the Lotus Sutra: in the semblance-dharma age a monk bowed to everyone he met, saying "I dare not disparage you, for you shall all become Buddhas." Though mocked and stoned, he never altered his practice; at the end of his life he heard the Lotus Sutra proclaimed in open space and attained purity of the six senses. The Buddha identifies that monk as his own former self.

Peace & Well-beingScriptural narrativeDraft translation1 primary witness
Master Daosheng: Sudden Awakening, Dying Seated upon the Lion Seat — Read story

Master Daosheng: Sudden Awakening, Dying Seated upon the Lion Seat

Zhu DaoshengEastern Jin (d. 434)

Zhu Daosheng, ordained under Zhu Fatai, dwelt seven years in seclusion on Mount Lu, constantly reciting the Lotus Sutra. He later studied under Kumārajīva in Guanzhong; his dialectic surpassed all, and men called his understanding divine. Lecturing at Huqiu on the theme that even icchantikas possess buddha-nature, the very stones nodded. At Bantang, while he recited the sutra, a pheasant came regularly to listen; he later heard it had been reborn as a boy who ordained, recited the Lotus, and died young — at the grave a light shone one night, and on opening it a tongue was found bearing a green lotus, whereupon a stupa and later a monastery arose (today's Bantang Monastery). His theses — 'merit receives no recompense' and 'awakening is sudden' — the textualists damned as heresy; so he swore before the assembly: if his teaching did not contradict the sutras, he would die seated upon the lion seat. When the Great Nirvana Sutra arrived and confirmed him, he ascended the seat to teach; as the session closed, his chowry dropped from his hand, and he passed away sitting upright, composed as in meditation.

Peace & Well-beingDraft translation2 primary witnesses
Master Fache: Teaching the Sutra Line by Line, the Leper's Skin Made Whole — Read story

Master Fache: Teaching the Sutra Line by Line, the Leper's Skin Made Whole

FacheTang dynasty (Puzhou)

Fache of the Tang, a Jiangzhou man, had mastered the Lotus Sutra and used it constantly to draw and convert people. He settled on the lone hill of Puzhou and founded a hermitage; the site was high and dry without a spring, but after years of devoted practice clear water burst forth, and Prefect Fang Renyu inscribed the plaque 'Sunken Spring' for the monastery. On the road he met a leper, led him into the hills, dug him a cave, fed him, and set him to reciting the Lotus Sutra. The man could not read and was dull of mind besides; the master taught him line upon line and never once wearied. By the sixth fascicle the disease was visibly receding; when the sutra was complete, eyebrows and beard had grown again, and his skin was as it had been.

Peace & Well-beingDraft translation1 primary witness
Shi Heshi: Recitation and Compassion alongside Work — Read story

Shi Heshi: Recitation and Compassion alongside Work

Shi HeshiTang (capital region)

A clerk named Shi Heshi kept compassion and patience in mind while reciting alongside his duties. A difficult phrase remains unresolved; signs at death are attributed to the source.

Peace & Well-beingDraft translation1 primary witness