During the reign of Empress Abe, Priest Kōon lived in the temple Amabenomine for a long time. By day and by night, he recited the Hokekyō diligently and fervently.

In old age, he became seriously ill. He was so exhausted that he had difficulty in rising and in reclining for any purpose. His disciple mourned to Kōon, “Master, you are so fatigued because of your grave illness. Unless you have some treatment, you won’t be able to recover and may die. Practicing the Way by maintaining one’s health is what Buddha has been preaching. You should buy fish and eat them as your medicine.”

Listening to the disciple’s recommendation, Kōon permitted his disciple to get some fish. The disciple sent a boy to the seaside of Kii Province for fish. The boy bought eight large nayoshi fish, put them in a box, and set out on his return, carrying the box on his back.

On the way, the boy met three laymen acquaintances who asked what he was carrying on his back. The boy, without thinking, said that it was the Hokekyō. Seeing the fluids from the fish oozing from the box, and smelling the fishy odor, the laymen stopped the boy in the street to correct the boy’s untrue words. In front of the passers-by, the laymen said to the boy, “You are carrying fish on your back. Why did you say that it was the Hokekyō?” The bystanders said that the box should be opened for inspection. The boy prayed mentally, “My master has maintained the Hokekyō for years. May the fish turn into the Hokekyō and save him from shame!” The people opened the box and behold! They saw eight rolls of the Hokekyō lying in the box. Viewing this, the people were awestruck and left the boy.

One of the laymen was still suspicious and followed the boy to the temple, and secretly told Kōon the details. On listening, Kōon thought this most extraordinary and did not eat the fish.

The joyful layman threw his body on the ground and paid homage to Kōon saying, “Oh how noble, how noble! The real fish turned into the rolls of the sūtra due to the power of the sūtra and your virtue, Holy Man Kōon! On the contrary, being ignorant and disbelieving the truth of cause and effect, I have annoyed your boy with suspicions. My sin is very grave. Please, Great Master, forgive me. I will have faith in you now and hereafter.” The layman became a patron of Kōon and venerated him thereafter.

One should know that if one cures one’s illness and takes care of oneself for the sake of the Law, poison will become medicine just as the fish became the sūtra. This story appears in the Ryōiki. (Page 39-40)