Renson, a priest of the Gangōji Temple, was of Mimasaka Province. Devoted to the Hokekyō recitation for years, he perfectly memorized twenty-seven chapters of the sūtra, but not the Chapter of Fugen. With further concentration, he tried to memorize the chapter verse by verse, repeating each verse several thousand times in vain. Greatly distressed, Renson engaged himself in difficult practices while observing a Summer Retreat and prayed to Fugen saying, “Bodhisattva Fugen, with a great vow on the Hokekyō, please protect me, a Hokekyō reciter, and make me remember when I forget some verses. I am still imperfect in following the precepts. But my efforts and devotion are all in compliance. I may not be great enough to comply with the teachings of the great sūtra. I have been reciting it with utmost respect and faith which are hard to acquire. I should be able to memorize the entire sūtra with the assistance of Fugen and other Buddhas. Why can’t I learn by heart this single chapter?”

Thus in prayer, Renson spent a summer in retreat. One night he dreamed of a Heavenly Boy who said to him, “I am a messenger from Fugen. I have come here to let you know about your past relationship. In your former life, you were a puppy living with your mother under the plank floor of this temple. A Hokekyō reciter recited the sūtra in the room above you. Both you and your mother listened to all the twenty-seven chapters beginning with the introductory chapter.

But when your mother left from under the floor, you followed her. Because of this, you failed to hear the Chapter of Fugen. Thanks to your merit in listening to the Hokekyō recitation, you were born as a human being in this life, became a priest, and have been able to recite the sūtra. But your karmic relationship to the Chapter of Fugen has not been close enough for you to learn it well in this life. But just continue your efforts. Someday, as you memorize the complete chapter, you will be able to meet various Buddhas in your next life, and to venerate the sūtra again.”

The awakened Renson now clearly knew the karmic cause. He devoted himself to the sūtra more fervently, and finally was able to master the Fugen Chapter. (Page 83)