Priest Jin’yū, commonly called Shōdaitoku of Koshi, had many names which need not be mentioned here. He was of the Koshi District of Echigo Province. He recited the Hokekyō and was devoted to his incomparably strict ascetic practices. Demon deities obeyed his orders, the lord of the region revered him from afar, and all those in the vicinity paid homage to him.

Now there was a mountain called Mount Kukami in the province, and wishing to do some good deed, a pious patron built a jeweled pagoda there. When he was about to offer a service of dedication for the pagoda, the thunder rolled and lightning struck and shattered the building. The sad patron grieved and lamented tearfully. He reconstructed the pagoda, but when he tried to offer the dedicatory service for it, just as before, the thunder rolled down with lightning and broke it into rubble. His pagoda was destroyed in this way three times. The patron grieved over his unaccomplished vow; he desired once more to reconstruct the pagoda and wished it to be safe from the thunder’s destruction.

Priest Jin’yū told the devout man, “Don’t lament any longer. With the power of the Hokekyō, I will protect the pagoda from destruction so that you may fulfill your vow.”

Priest Jin’yū stayed at the foot of the newly built pagoda and recited the sūtra. Suddenly the thunder began to roll through the clouds, a light rain fell, and lightning flashed. The devotee once more grieved for he was afraid that this was the sign that the thunder was trying to destroy the pagoda. Priest Jin’yū made a vow and continuously recited the sūtra in a loud voice.

At that moment, a boy fell from the sky. He seemed to be about fifteen or sixteen years old; he had unkempt hair and a furious look. He was bound in five places, including his body, knees, and head, and he cried loudly and tearfully.

Bowing and prostrating himself before Jin’yū, the boy said, “Have mercy and forgive me. I will never destroy the pagoda hereafter.”

When Jin’yū asked him why he had destroyed the pagoda, the boy replied, “The Earth Deity of this mountain is a close friend of mine. The deity told me, ‘A pagoda has been built on top of me and I have lost my place. Destroy the pagoda!’ So I have destroyed the pagoda each time for the deity. However, the mysterious power of the sūtra has subjugated everything, and the Earth Deity has moved elsewhere. I am also frightened and awestruck by such power as this.”

The patron now realized that his vow had been fulfilled and that the priest’s words were true. Priest Jin’yū said to the boy, the incarnation of the Thunder, “Since you follow the Law of the Buddha and do nothing contrary to it and are also developing a good mind without destroying the pagoda, you will be truly benefited by your virtue.

“Now when I look at the temple here, I see that it has no water. The priests have to go down to the valley and climb up here to fetch water. You, Thunder, must cause a spring to appear at this temple for the sake of the resident priests. If you don’t create the spring, I will bind you and won’t release you for months and even years. Also, you must not make any rolling noise within forty ri in the four directions about this temple.”

The prostrated Thunder respectfully received the priest’s orders and said, “I will produce the water as you said. Moreover, how could I dare make any rolling noise or even appear within forty ri about this mountain!”

The Thunder then poured a few drops of water from a container onto his palms. As soon as he had made a hole in the top of a rock with his fingers, the Thunder made a quick movement, and leaped up into the sky and disappeared. Clear and abundant water suddenly gushed from the hole in the rock. It was cold in summer to reduce the heat and warm in winter to prevent freezing.

The jeweled pagoda remained undamaged for several hundred years. Although the thunder rolled in all other places, it was never heard within forty ri in the four directions around Mount Kukami.

Truly the power of the Law is unusual and mysterious. Many priests gathered there and lived in the temple; they propagated the Law and benefited others. Owing to the power of the Hokekyō, Priest Jin’yū displayed marvelous virtue to the people and attained enlightenment. He expired during the era of Jingokeiun. (Page 101-102)

Miraculous Tales of the Lotus Sutra from Ancient Japan