In Yamashiro province there was once a self-ordained novice whose name is unknown. He used to play go all the time. One day when he was playing go* with a layman, a mendicant came to recite the Hoke-kyō and beg for alms. The novice laughed at him, mimicking his accent with a twisted mouth. The layman was greatly shocked at this and exclaimed, “How awful!” at each turn in the game. The layman won the game every time, and the novice lost. Meanwhile the novice’s mouth became twisted, and no medicine could cure it. The gist of this story is stated in the Hoke-kyō as follows: “Those who laugh at and slight this scripture will lose many teeth and get a twisted mouth, a flattened nose, crippled limbs and squint eyes.” It is better to be possessed by evil spirits and talk in a daze than to abuse the devotees of the Hoke-kyō. Remember that evil comes from one’s mouth. (Page 130-131)

*The Sōni-ryō (Article 9) prohibits monks and nuns from performing music or games of chance, but they are allowed to play the koto (a string instrument) and the game of go.