Priest Renchō was a good friend and a colleague of Holy Man Chōen of Sakurai. Renchō was most devoted to the Way, and never idled away his time, but fervently recited the Hokekyō. Except when bathing, he never loosened his sash. He stayed up day and night, and hardly slept. He neither used a pillow nor a stand to rest his arms and elbows. He avoided sleeping and lying a long time in bed and remained sitting.

When reciting the sūtra, he was spirited and his attention never slackened. He constantly recited the Hokekyō and rested from time to time when his mind felt tired. Otherwise, his recitation was always enjoyable.

He visited and recited one thousand copies of the sūtra at each of the famous mountains and sacred places, including Mount Mitake, Kumano, Shiga, and Hatsuse.

Renchō used to recite the sūtra so rapidly that he could easily finish one thousand copies within a month. He had recited numerous copies of the sūtra since his youth.

One night a person staying with Renchō dreamed that four armored and helmeted strangers, dressed in celestial robes, surrounded Renchō and constantly protected him.

Towards the end of his life, Renchō held in his hand a beautiful white lotus blossom which was out-of-season. As one of his friends asked about the blossom, Renchō said, “This is the Lotus of the Buddha Nature.” After speaking, Renchō passed away and the lotus blossom in his hand suddenly disappeared. (Page 84-85)