An unidentified priest lived at the Tadain Temple at Teshima in Settsu Province. After he had lived several decades, he devoted himself to the Hokekyō, reciting it single-mindedly and practicing the Three Deeds. He had passed many years in the mountains engaged in ascetic practices. A certain layman much appreciated and venerated this devout priest and served him faithfully.

One day the layman fell ill during an epidemic and finally died. He was laid in a coffin which was placed in a treetop. Five days later, however, he revived, got out of the coffin, and returned home.

At his house, the layman told his wife and children about the Land After Death:

“King Yama took out a ledger, examined the tablets of my life’s conduct and said, ‘Since you have been very sinful, you should be sent to hell. However, I will pardon you by extending your life span and let you go home. This is because you have devoutly venerated the reciter of the Hokekyō for all these years. As a result of this merit, you will be released from here. After returning home, venerate the Hokekyō reciter. This will be more appreciated than venerating many Buddhas during the three periods of time, and your virtue will excel all other merits.

“After hearing King Yama’s admonishment, I left his office and returned to this world. On my way home I saw some ten stupas, all of them finely decorated with seven jewels, risen of their own accord in a mountain field.

“The priest, whom I have venerated all these years, sat facing these adorned stupas. He breathed flames from his mouth and burned them all down. Next, I heard a voice in the sky which said to me, “You should know that these stupas appeared as the priest recited the Chapter of the Apparition of the Stupa in the Hokekyō. But he has angrily scolded and abused his disciples and followers. The violent flames of his anger flared out from his mouth and burned down those stupas. If the reciter had controlled his anger and recited the sūtra, the jeweled stupas undoubtedly would have filled this world. Tell this to your priest!’ ”

All those who heard the layman’s story, his wife and children, relatives, followers and all his neighbors, thought it most unusual. The layman went to the priest and told him what had happened in the Land After Death.

The priest listened to his story, regretted and repented of his deeds, left his people and the ignorant crowd, and lived alone, reciting the Hokekyō singlehandedly. Ten years later he finally passed away without any sickness while sitting in a posture of meditation. (Page 58-59)