This is a continuation of the introduction to Miraculous Stories from the Japanese Buddhist Tradition.
In the Lotus Sūtra, World Voice Perceiver, Kannon, is the subject of Chapter 25, The Universal Gate of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva. But he is not a central figure in Nichiren Buddhism. Nor is he included among the Lotus Sūtra bodhisattvas who appear on Nichiren’s Mandala Gohonzon. However, Kannon does feature prominently in the Nihon ryōiki. Here are two examples.
The first is a straightforward illustration of the power of faith in Kannon:
On Suffering War Damage and Gaining an Immediate Reward for Faith in an Image of Bodhisattva Kannon
Ochi no atae, ancestor of the governor of Ochi district in Iyo province was sent to Paekche in the Japanese expeditionary force and taken prisoner by Chinese soldiers and brought to T’ang China.
In China, he and some other Japanese, eight in all, came to live on an island. They acquired an image of Bodhisattva Kannon, worshiping it together with great devotion. They worked together cutting down a pine tree to make a boat, enshrined the Kannon image in the boat, and, meditating on the image, made their individual vows. Fortunately, the boat drifted straight to Tsukushi with the help of the west wind.
At this news the court summoned them for an investigation. When the emperor heard them, he was so moved that he granted them a wish. Ochi no atae said, “I would like to serve you by establishing an estate, and it was granted. Thereupon he established the estate and built a temple in which to consecrate the Kannon image. After that, his descendants followed his example in worshiping the Kannon.
This is nothing but the work of Kannon, and the total maturation of faith. It is said that even a wooden image of Ting-Ian’s mother appeared to be alive, and the woman in a picture loved by a monk responded with sympathy. How, then, can it be possible for the Bodhisattva not to respond? (Page 128)
How such a tale might be applied to personal practice is illustrated in this Daily Dharma from March 26, 2019:
If anyone, guilty or not, calls the name of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva when he is bound up in manacles, fetters, pillories or chains, those things [in which he is bound up] will break asunder, and he will be saved.
The Buddha gives this description of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva (Kannon, Kanzeon, Kuan Yin, Avalokitesvara) to Endless-Intent Bodhisattva in Chapter Twenty-Five of the Lotus Sūtra. The bonds of ignorance and delusion in which we find ourselves are not the result of our personal inadequacy, and neither do they come entirely from the circumstances of the world around us. But these bonds are real, and in our struggles to escape we often just make them worse. When we remember World-Voice Perceiver, the embodiment of compassion, and call on her for help, then we awaken compassion within ourselves and others in the world, and break the bonds of delusion for everyone.
But I don’t know what to make of this next story of personal gratification gained by calling the name of Kannon. If it were published separately I’d speculate that it was meant as an ironic tale of greed.
On Attaining a Great Fortune Immediately Owing to Devotion to Kannon and Praying for a Share of Benefits
In the reign of ex-Emperor Shōhō-ōjin-shōmu residing at Nara Palace Miteshiro no Azumabito went to Mt. Yoshino to practice Buddhist teachings and seek his fortune. Three years passed during which he worshiped Kannon, reciting the name, and saying, “Homage to Kannon. Please give me ten thousand kan of copper coins, ten thousand koku of white rice and many beautiful girls.”
At that time, Awata no asomi of the Junior Third Rank had a daughter who was both unmarried and a virgin. She suddenly fell ill in her home in Hirose. Her suffering was so great that there seemed no prospect of a cure. Her father sent messengers in all directions to call Buddhist monks and lay brothers. Azumabito was called and begged to save her by chanting formulas. The power of the formulas cured the illness, and she fell in love with him, eventually giving herself to him. Her family seized him and kept him confined in a room. Out of her affection, she cried and would not leave the place of his confinement. After a conference, her family decided to free Azumabito and let him marry her and inherit the fortune. He was given the Fifth Rank owing to the report to the Throne.
After several years, when she was dying, she called her sister, and said, “I am dying now. I have but one wish; will you listen?” Her sister said, “I will do as you like.” Whereupon Azumabito’s wife said, “I can never forget my gratitude to Azumabito. I would like to make your daughter his wife and let her be in charge of the household.” Faithful to her wish, the sister gave her daughter to Azumabito and put her in charge of the fortune.
Azumabito was richly blessed in this life because of the mysterious power he gained from his devotional practices and the great virtue of Kannon. How can anyone not believe that? (Page 146-147)