Priest Giei practised the Way as he travelled through the mountains. When he was once travelling from Kumano to Ōmine heading towards Mount Mitake, he lost his directions. He vainly tried to find the right way to the summit by blowing his conch shell.
Surrounded by the mountains, he found himself in a deep valley. For days, Giei struggled to find his route. He prayed to his Buddha and the Three Treasures to help him reach an inhabited place.
Finally, Giei arrived at a flat forested area. There he saw a new and clean Buddhist house with ornate gables, well-designed lattices, wooden sliding and hanging doors, ceilings, and mats of bamboo. The front yard of white sand presented a most tasteful view with various flowers and fruits in a profusion of green foliage.
Seeing this, Giei rejoiced and slowed his pace. As he approached, he saw a priest about twenty years old sitting correctly in the house and reciting the Hokekyō in a very deep and noble voice which resembled the sounds of a lute.
As Giei watched, a strange thing happened. As soon as the priest finished reciting a copy of a chapter of the sūtra and put it down on his desk, the roll of the copy jumped into the air, rolled back to its front cover, bound itself with a cord and landed on the desk as if had been originally placed. Every copy rolled back thus as soon as the young priest finished until the entire sūtra was recited. The priest prayed for the benefit of others, stood up, and came out of his house.
Seeing Giei, the surprised priest spoke, “No one has ever come here since ancient times. Even the birds of the valleys are rarely heard in this deep mountain. How could I expect anyone to come here? Tell me what happened?”
“While passing through the mountains during my ascetic practices, I lost my way and arrived here,” replied Giei.
After he heard Giei’s explanation, the young priest invited Giei inside the house, had him take a seat, and asked someone in the house if the food had been prepared. Soon a few good-looking boys brought beautifully arranged food trays. Giei saw various extraordinary things there. Finally, Giei asked the priest, “How long have you lived here and how can you manage everything here so easily?”
The priest replied, “I have been living here more than eighty years. Originally, I was a disciple of Priest Kikei of Tōto of Mount Hiei. On account of a small dispute, I was cut off from my master. I foolishly left my temple and wandered about as I liked. When young, I travelled about during my ascetic practices without any place to settle. But, becoming old, I have remained in this mountain and have been waiting here for my last moments.”
Giei felt more puzzled and continued questioning. “You say nobody has come here. But I just saw a few handsome young boys here. Are you telling me a lie?”
“A passage of the sūtra says, ‘Various Heavenly Boys will come and serve.’ Why should there be anything strange about these boys?”
Giei asked further, “Although you say that you are old, you look very young. Is this also a lie?”
“That is not false either. As another passage of the sūtra says, ‘The one who listens to the recitation of the sūtra will be free from illness, aging, and death,’ ” answered the priest.
After a while, the priest urged Giei to leave the house sooner. Giei lamented saying, “For days and nights, I was wandering in the mountain without knowing my directions. I am mentally and physically exhausted and cannot walk a step further. Besides, the sun is setting, and the dark night is approaching. Why are you urging me to leave here?”
The priest explained, “It is not that I dislike you. But this place has not had a human atmosphere for a long time. If you wish to stay for the night, remain silent.”
When it became late at night, a sudden breeze rose, and the atmosphere changed. Many demon deities in various shapes and forms, including those of deer, and those with the heads of cows, horses, and birds, gathered in the front yard. They all brought incense, flowers, fruit, and other foods on trays as their offerings, and stood in line in front of the yard. After they placed their offerings on the high shelf constructed in the yard, they bowed respectfully with their palms together in prayer and retired to their proper positions.
One of them said, “Something is unusual tonight. There is a human atmosphere hereabouts.” Another said, “Who has come here?”
The priest made a vow and recited the Hokekyō continuously through the night. As the dawn was about to break, the priest prayed for the benefit of others. The members of the crowd which had gathered also prayed for each other and dispersed.
The wondering Giei asked the priest, “Where did those strange creatures come from?” The priest replied, “They came here just as a passage of the sūtra says, ‘If one preaches the Law in a quiet place with no human souls, Deva Kings, Dragon Kings, Yaksa, and demon deities will be sent to listen.’ ”
Finally, Giei wished to leave but did not know his directions.
“I will send you to a human habitation with a guide,” said the priest as he took a water jar and placed it on the straw mat. The jar jumped up and slowly advanced in a certain direction. Giei followed the jar and reached the summit in about two hours. As he looked down from the summit, he saw a village at the foot of the mountain. Suddenly, the water jar ascended into the air and flew back to its place.
After reaching the village, Giei tearfully told the villagers about the Hokekyō reciter in the deep mountain. Those who heard his story all rejoiced with tears, and many made vows with firm faith. (Page 40-42)
Miraculous Tales of the Lotus Sutra from Ancient Japan
