Among the disciples of Jōchō, the head priest of Kōryūji Temple, was a priest whose name is unknown. His mind was that of a secular man even though his appearance was that of a priest. Holding a bow and arrows in his hand and hiding a dagger in his bosom, he shot birds and animals and ate fish whenever he saw them. He was certainly not qualified to hold the priestly beads in his hand, nor to wear a priestly robe over his shoulders. He was truly a shameful priest who violated the precepts.

However, he venerated the chapter of Juryō of the Hokekyō and recited it without missing a single day. Later he followed the advice of Genshin, the head priest of the Hōshōji Temple, and stayed where they kept the vehicles by the temple gate.

Finally, he contracted a serious illness and was certain to die. Having observed his bad deeds during his life and his grave illness in his last moments, the head priest felt pity toward this shameful priest and decided to grant him the precepts.

As soon as the bad priest received the precepts, he rose from his bed, felt easy in his sickness, and gained the correct faith. He washed his hands and mouth, joined his palms, and recited the chapter of Juryō single-mindedly.

As he recited the last two verses of the chapter saying that one could enter the path to enlightenment and instantly become a Buddha, he completed the chapter and passed away with a serene mind. (Page 98)

After leaving his parents’ home, Myōren lived in the Hōryūji Temple. He read the Hokekyō and liked to recite it. He wished to learn the complete text. He memorized the passages from the first to the seventh roll and could recite them at will without missing a single word. However, he could not learn the eighth roll, no matter how many years he spent. He read the roll many times but became more forgetful as the years passed.

Lamenting, Myōren thought, “If I were a fool, I would not have learned the first seven rolls. And if I were smart, I should be able to learn the eighth roll. Why could I memorize the first seven rolls in a year while I cannot memorize the eighth roll even after spending several years? I should pray to the Buddhas and gods to discover the reason.”

Myōren confined himself in an Inari Shrine and prayed to the god for one hundred days, but he obtained no response. Myōren visited the Hatsusedera Temple and Mt. Mitake and went on a summer retreat at each place in vain. He continued his prayers at Mount Kumano for another hundred days, and the god of Mount Kumano appeared in a dream saying, “Your request is beyond my ability. You should ask for the help of the god of Sumiyoshi Shrine.”

Following the instruction of the god of Mt. Kumano, Myōren went to the Sumiyoshi Shrine and spent a hundred days in prayer. Finally, the Sumiyoshi god said that Myōren should go to Mount Daisen of Hahaki.

So Myōren visited Mt. Daisen and went on a summer retreat there. Finally, the Bodhisattva Daichimyō responded to Myōren in a dream, “I will tell you the reason. Believe me without a single doubt. Once in your former life, a man from Mimasaka visited this mountain leading a cow with a load of rice on its back. The man left the cow in the priests quarter while he visited the main hall. A Hokekyō reciter in the priests’ quarter began to recite the sūtra at night. The cow listened to all the seven rolls until daybreak. The cow developed a pious mind while listening to the recitation but had to accompany its master home in the morning without hearing the eighth roll.

You were the cow. Since you had listened to the recitation of the Hokekyō, you left the state of an animal, and were reborn as a human being in this life. You came to learn the Law and the seven rolls of the sūtra. Since you had not heard the eighth roll, you were unable to learn it in this life. Now refrain from the evils caused by your mouth, body, and will, and recite the Hokekyō. You will be able to enter the Tosotsu Heaven in the future.”

Waking from his dream, Myōren clearly understood the karmic cause and sincerely prayed with his palms joined, saying, “Having listened to the Hokekyō recitation, the ignorant cow could leave its animal state, was reborn as a human being, and is able to recite the sūtra. How could one fail to accumulate virtue if one practices the Way as a human being? Buddhas will certainly know about it. I hope that I will see various Buddhas in my successive lives, listen to the Hokekyō for generation after generation, always engage in the devout practices of the bodhisattvas, and finally attain the supreme Buddhahood.” Thus vowing Myōren paid his respects to the god and left the mountain.

It is difficult to listen to The Lotus;
It is difficult to make comments, copy, and recite it;
It is difficult to meet those who venerate it.
Those who see, hear, praise or slander it Will equally become Buddhas.
(Page 99-100)