The Hokekyō reciter Eijitsu was not a man of low birth but a descendant of royalty. In his youth, he left his parents and entered the priesthood. He was merciful by nature and had pity on those suffering. He lived in Mount Atago and recited the Hokekyō.

When it was cold, he removed his robe to cover someone without clothes. When he had no clothes for himself, he filled a large barrel with leaves, placed himself inside the barrel to avoid the cold and recited the Hokekyō.

A heavy snow fell on one occasion. Eijitsu had no food for several days. He ate earth from the hearth, which tasted very sweet. Thus he prolonged his life while continuously reciting the sūtra. As he completed his recitation of an entire copy of the sūtra with difficult ascetic practices, a white elephant appeared in front of him and released a radiance from its mouth. Such extraordinary incidents happened frequently.

Eijitsu’s reciting voice was so beautiful that the listeners all shed tears. There is no doubt that the miraculous power of his recitation subjugated evil and cured the pains of the sick. The emperor and his ministers, as well as those near and far, were all joyful and respected him as they listened to his recitations.

A sick person was lying on the street, soiled by his excrement which had a terrible odor. The passers-by ran away, closing their eyes and holding their noses. Eijitsu remained with the sick person, covered him with a robe, held him and lay beside him while reciting the Hokekyō. Thanks to the power of the sūtra and Eijitsu’s influence, the sick person recovered. Such examples were numerous. Certainly these deeds of mercy, which alleviated pain and suffering, would not be possible by an ordinary man.

Eijitsu once went down to Kyūshū where he became very successful, like a wealthy man, in managing secular affairs such as cultivating fields with abundant profit in rice and sake. Sometimes he ate fish and fowl and at other times he equipped himself with a bow and arrow. While in secular life, Eijitsu had unusual experiences. When he recited the Hokekyō to the broiled fish, the fish began to breathe with quivering gills and swam about as they were released in the water. At another time, he was carrying a quiver of arrows on his back. A nearby person saw him carrying a bunch of lotus flowers on his back. The surprised person took a second look at his back, and this time he saw a quiver with arrows on his back.

The governor of Higo Province of Kyūshū slandered Eijitsu and confiscated his property, saying, “Eijitsu is a precept-violating priest. No one should associate with him!” Sometime later the governor’s wife became fatally ill. Medicinal treatments and abundant prayers proved ineffective. The distressed governor showed his grief in every movement. His deputy suggested that they should invite Eijitsu to recite the Hokekyō. The governor became enraged, saying, ”A priest committing such violations should not be invited here!” But on the deputy’s repeated recommendations, the governor finally said, “I don’t know, but you do as you like.” So the deputy sent the invitation to Eijitsu, who first refused, saying, “Since I am a precept-violating priest and as ignorant as a vulgar man, you will not trust me.” However, at the deputy’s sincere repeated request, Eijitsu finally went to the governor’s mansion and began to recite the Hokekyō. Before he finished the first chapter, the spirit of a guardian deity possessed the wife, and kicked down and struck the screens several hundred times in front of Eijitsu. Then the wife became free of pain and suffering, ate her food, felt comfortable in her movements, and again became her healthy self.

Clasping his hands, the governor paid homage to Eijitsu, apologized for his mistakes and rudeness, and tried to return to Eijitsu all that had been taken from him. But Eijitsu declined the governor’s offer.

Towards the end of his life, Eijitsu became aware of the approach of his death, built a hut and secluded himself. He recited the Hokekyō and fasted for several days. His reciting voice was heard even in distant places. Those who listened all said piously, “Oh, that is Eijitsu’s voice in his last recitation before his death!” Shortly after, clasping his hands, Eijitsu passed away, meditating with a firm faith.

A person said that Eijitsu, in his last moments, encountered a malignant influence and made an erroneous vow. Others denied this, explaining, “He did not develop an incorrect view. He apparently may have conceived an erroneous idea, but later he repented, generated deep piety, and passed away while reciting the Hokekyō.” (Page 88-89)

Miraculous Tales of the Lotus Sutra from Ancient Japan