A priest of the Ryūkaiji Temple of the Heguri District of Yamato Province was devoted to the Hokekyō and had recited it for years. His daily activities included reciting the sūtra, learning the meaning of the words, and lecturing on a chapter of the sūtra.

A dragon heard the priest’s recitation and was impressed with the noble lectures on the sūtra. He transformed himself into a man, came to the temple garden, and listened to the daily recitation for three years. Recognizing the dragon’s true faith, the priest developed a sincere friendship with the dragon. Soon their association became widely known among the public.

There was a drought in the country at that time. The plants of the five cereals were dying from lack of rain. The lamenting people appealed to the emperor. The emperor summoned the priest of the Ryūkaiji and said, “I hear that when you recite and lecture on the Hokekyō, a dragon comes and listens. Tell the dragon to cause rain. If you fail, you will be expelled from this country of Japan.”

With the imperial command, the lamenting priest returned to his place and explained his predicament to the dragon. The dragon said, “Thanks to listening to your recitation of the Hokekyō, I no longer suffer from my bad karma and now enjoy the benefits. I would like to repay your favor at the cost of my life. However, this drought has nothing to do with me but is caused by the Bonten Ō, the Great Deva King, who wishes to end evil in this country, and has caused the rains to cease. If I go and open the Gates of Rain, I will be killed immediately. Yet I would like to cause rain for three days and sacrifice my life to serve the Law.

I beg you to bury my corpse and to build a temple on the site of my death. Temples should be built at each of four places where I will appear and should be regarded as sacred to the Buddha. As the dragon finished, he parted from the priest who immediately reported all this to the emperor.

When the promised day arrived, the sky suddenly became cloudy, the thunder rolled and a torrential rain continuously fell for three days and nights. The land became fully irrigated and the revived plants became abundant. The pleased emperor invited the priest and had him offer lectures on the Hokekyō.

As agreed with the dragon, a temple named Ryūkaiji, Dragon Sea Temples was built. More temples, including the Dragon Gate Temple, Ryūmonji, Dragon Heaven Temple, Ryütenji, and Dragon King Temple, Ryūōji, were constructed. The priest spent the remainder of his life lecturing on the Law. Many other extraordinary things which happened during his life are not recorded. (Page 89-90)

Holy Man Shōkū of Mount Shosha was from Nishinokyō of the Heian capital, and his secular clan was called Tachibana. He was born with his right hand clenched. His parents forced his fist open and found a needle in his hand. Three days later, the baby Shōkū was missed. He was found sitting comfortably in the bushes of the front garden, smiling and playing with flowers.

From youth until old age, he always had a kind smile, spoke soft and gentle words, avoided coarse and erroneous language, relied on the Teachings of the One Vehicle, and only wished to attain Buddhahood.

For difficult ascetic practices, he lived in a hut in a deep mountain where not a single bird was heard. He spent days without meals and months without fire. The marvelous power of the Hokekyō and of his priestly robe protected his physical self which was as transient as the overnight dews.

Sometimes he dreamed of having a tray of delicacies. Even after he awoke, his stomach felt full and his mouth held a delicious taste. At another time he dreamed of beautiful white rice appearing from the sūtra. He also dreamed that someone brought him something. After awakening, Shōkū actually found various foods besides him. The rice cakes, which he dreamed had appeared from the sūtra, tasted as delicious as if they were Heavenly Sweet Dews. He surpassed others with his stately appearance and well-rounded and supple body.

On a severely cold night, Shōkū’s unclothed body became as cold as ice, but as he recited the sūtra and withstood the coldness, a thick quilted robe descended of its own accord from the ceiling of the hut and covered his body. Someone concealing his identity came and asked questions. Might it be a bodhisattva or a Buddha? Others came in their forms and appearances to run errands for Shōkū. Were they Heavenly Boys or Dragon Deities? Such extraordinary incidents frequently happened to Shōkū.

After having completed his self-cultivation, Shōkū descended from the recesses of the mountain to cultivate the people. He had lived to practice the Way on Mount Shosha and at other places where many people including the priests and the laymen, the high and the humble, gathered like clouds. Their name cards left with Shōkū were piled high and their offerings to him were as abundant as the sea water. Some who had seen Shōkū felt as if they had met a Buddha. Others who had heard him thought they had listened to a sermon as of a Buddha. Those who received a grain of Shōkū’s rice felt as if they had obtained part of a relic of the Buddha and those who had gotten a piece of Shōkū’s robe cherished it as if they had gotten a robe of the Buddha.

Emperor Hanayama visited Shōkū a few times, had Shōkū’s picture made with Ajari Engen, and had Shōkū’s manners recorded, both in his practices at night and in the early morning. As they began to draw his picture, the earth and mountain trembled. Shōkū explained to the shocked emperor and the frightened people, “Do not fear. The earth quaked because this picture of a humble priest, me, is going to be finished. Soon the earth will tremble again.”

When the picture was completed, the mountains and earth were greatly shaken again, and the emperor descended from his seat to pay homage to Shōkū.

Towards the end of his life, Shōkū learned the time of his death. He entered a room to meditate, recited the Hokekyō with serene composure, and finally passed away. (Page 71-72)