Priest Anshō’s skin was as dark as charcoal or the soot used for drawing women’s eyebrows. Ashamed of this, Anshō would not associate with people, but recited the Hokekyō intelligently with a good voice. All those who heard his recitation rejoiced.

Being very pious, Anshō made a Buddhist image, copied sūtras, and venerated the Law. He gave his clothes to the poor people and sought medicine for the sick.

At one time, he visited the Hatsuse Temple and prayed to Kannon, saying, “Why am I with my dark complexion so different from others? By your power, please tell me about my former life.” Anshō spent three days in prayer at the worship hall of the temple before dreaming at night of a beautiful noble lady whose clothes were redolent of incense. The lady said to Anshō, “You should know that in your previous life, you were a black cow who lived near a Hokekyō reciter and always listened to his recitation. Due to this, you left the status of a suffering animal, were reborn as a human being, and have been hearing the Hokekyō throughout your life. As a remaining effect from your past karma, you have been born with a black skin. However, do not grieve. In your future life, you will ascend to heaven, meet Bodhisattva Miroku, and attain Supreme Buddhahood.”

Anshō awoke and fervently prayed to Kannon. His vows and wishes were realized as he practised the Way in accordance with the Hokekyō. He never idled away his time, but practised many good acts while maintaining the Three Deeds. Anshō finally passed away in a serene state of enlightenment. (Page 54)

Okina of Kaga Province was a layman, but people called him Master Okina because of his priestly conduct and manners. With his pure heart, Okina left mundane affairs and venerated the Hokekyō with a deep faith.

When he had enough food, he retired to a quiet place and recited the Hokekyō for days and nights. When his food was exhausted, he went to the nearby village, recited the sūtras as requested, received food, and retreated to his quiet place. Thus, he spent several decades in reciting the sūtra. He owned nothing but a copy of the Hokekyō. With no definite residence, he wandered from mountain to village. With no reserve for food and clothes, he always remained poor, surviving only on what he received from time to time.

On one occasion, Okina said to the sūtra, “I have venerated the Hokekyō for a long time. This is not for my present life, but for my future deliverance. If my wishes are to be realized, may I be shown the signs?” As he finished his prayer, he began to recite the Hokekyō.

While reciting, a tooth fell from his mouth on the copy of the sūtra. The surprised Okina took it in his hand and found that it was a relic of the Buddha. Feeling this most extraordinary, Okina paid homage to it and put it away carefully.

On another occasion, as he was reciting the sūtra, another relic fell from his mouth. Thus Okina obtained two relics altogether. The rejoicing Okina thought that this was an auspicious sign for his future deliverance, which was revealed by the Hokekyō’s power.

Finally, Okina went to a mountain temple to spend the remainder of his life. He stayed under a tree and quietly recited the sūtra with no delusion in his mind and no pain in his body.

When he recited the words in the Chapter of Juryō which say; “Cherishing the concept of leading others to attain Buddhahood and its benefits,” Okina rose, paid homage to the sūtra with deep respect and passed away. (Page 127-128)

A woman lived in the Kuse District of Yamashiro Province. Since the age of seven, she had recited the Chapter of Kannon of the Hokekyō, observed the precepts on the eighteenth day of every month, and venerated Kannon. By the time when she reached the age of twelve, she had already recited the whole copy of the sūtra. By nature she had a benevolent heart and showed mercy to all living beings.

One time when she saw a man holding a bound crab, she asked the man why he was carrying the crab. The man replied that he was going to eat it. The woman said, “Give me the crab. We have many dead fish at home. You may have some for the crab.” As the woman got the crab, she mercifully released the crab into the water.

Another time when the aged father of the woman was cultivating the field, he saw a poisonous snake swallowing a frog. Without reflecting, the father hastily said to the snake, “Spare the frog and I will make you my son-in-law.” Hearing him, the snake lifted its head, stared into his face, released the frog and crawled into the nearby bushes.

The aged father went home thinking, “I spoke thoughtlessly.” Disturbed, he could not eat at home. His wife and daughter asked, “Why aren’t you eating and why do you look so worried?” The father explained what had happened. The daughter said, “Don’t worry, please, but finish your meal.”

That night, someone knocked at the gate. The father thought that the snake had finally come and told his daughter, who said, “Please tell him to return three days from now.”

The father opened the gate. He saw a man dressed’ as a nobleman of fifth rank standing there, who said, “I am here as we agreed this morning.”

“Please return three days from now,” said the father and the man left.

Later, the daughter had a temporary storehouse built of thick planks. Toward evening of the third day, the daughter went into the storehouse, and closed the door.

When night fell, the man dressed as a nobleman came, opened the gate, and saw the storehouse which contained the woman. He became enraged, revealed his original snake form, coiled around the, storehouse, and struck it with his tail. Hearing this, the parents were terror-stricken. About midnight, the blows ceased and the snake’s cry was heard. After a while, the cry also ended.

As day dawned, they went out to see the storehouse. Behold! In front of the storehouse, a large crab accompanied by several thousand other crabs had killed the snake by cutting it into pieces. The crabs all crawled away as they heard the people coming.

Now the daughter, looking pale, came out of the storehouse and said to her parents, “I have been reciting the Kannon Chapter all night long. A one-foot-tall priest appeared and told me not to be afraid, but especially to recite and rely on the passage which says, ‘The venom of snakes and of poisonous insects will be dissipated by firm faith in the power of Kannon.’ So I did as recommended and dispelled dangers with the protection of Kannon.”

Afterwards, they buried the snake and built a temple on the spot to release the snake’s soul from suffering and to atone for the crabs’ sin of taking life. A Buddhist image and copies of the sūtra were made, and Buddhist services were held at the temple. The temple is called the Kanimatadera and still exists today. However, the people in those days called it Kanihatadera Temple’ instead of its original name. (Page 138-139)