Having abstained from evil deeds for a long time, a government official with the title of Ōsumi-no-jō strongly aspired to the Way. He had been reciting the Hokekyō for years and had never neglected his daily recitation of a chapter or a copy of the sūtra. He was also devoted to Kannon and observed the proper precepts on the eighteenth day of the month.

He once accompanied the governor to Satsuma Province. After the governor had completed his term of duty, he and his men, including Ōsumi-no-jō, were travelling home to the capital. The governor had developed a grudge against Ōsumi-no-jō and intended to harm him. While crossing the waters between Agi and Suō, they stopped at a remote uninhabited island and marooned Ōsumi-no-jō there.

That was the eighteenth day of the month. Ōsumi-no-jō observed the precepts and recited the eighth roll of the Hokekyō while he tearfully grieved over being marooned and separated from his people, including his wife and children. Thus, he waited for his death.

He tearfully continued to recite the sūtra until the following day. In the morning, when he looked at the sea he saw a black dot on the horizon. The black dot was a small boat which came towards shore as fast as a gale.

The boatmen were surprised to see Ōsumi-no-jō and asked, “Since long ago, no one has come to this island. How did you happen to come ashore?”

Ōsumi-no-jō explained his situation. The amazed boatmen felt sorry for him and gave him food. They said to each other, “We have seen this island from a distance for years but have never been here before. However, last night we suddenly decided to come here and arrived this morning to find this man. Now we clearly know why we hurried to this island. Thanks to the Buddhas’ assistance, this man was to be rescued. We should take him to our village.”

So the boatmen immediately escorted Ōsumi-no-jō to the provincial office of Suhō. Thus thanks to the assistance of Kannon and the miraculous power of the Hokekyō, Ōsumino-jō prolonged his life span. After his safe return to the capital, his faith in Kannon and the Hokekyō increased. (Page 126)