Kako je molitev ozdravila Kūyovo roko

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Kako je molitev ozdravila Kūyovo roko

He had gone up and taken his seat when Bishop Yokei also arrived to join the gathering. As they conversed, the bishop asked, “How did you come to break that arm?” The holy man replied, “I am told that when I was very young, my mother, in a fit of jealousy, took me by one hand and flung me aside, breaking my arm. I was too young to remember it myself. Fortunately, it was my left arm. Had it been my right—” The bishop said, “You are a holy man of great distinction. People say you are a son of the emperor, and I hold you in the deepest reverence. What would you say if I were to try to heal your arm through prayer?” “Nothing could give me greater joy,” replied the holy man. “It would be a blessing indeed. Please bestow your healing prayers upon me.” He drew closer, and the people in the hall gathered round to watch. Then black smoke rose from the crown of the bishop’s head as he performed the healing rite. After a little while, the bent arm suddenly snapped straight, extending just like the right. Tears streaming down his face, the holy man bowed three times in worship. All who witnessed it cried out in wonder and admiration, and some wept. That day the holy man had brought three young ascetics with him. One was an ascetic who collected rope: he would pick up old rope fallen along the roads, mix it into plaster, and mend the crumbling walls of old temple halls. Another gathered melon rinds, washed them in water, and gave them to prisoners. The third picked up discarded scraps of paper, made them into fresh paper, and used it to copy the sutras. In gratitude for the healing of his arm, the holy man offered this last ascetic to the bishop as a disciple. The bishop gladly accepted him and gave him the name Gikan. It was a wondrous occurrence indeed.