While Bankei
was preaching quietly to his followers, his talk was interrupted by a
Shinsu priest who believed in miracles, and thought salvation came from
repeating holy words. Bankei was unable to go on with his talk, and asked
the priest what he wanted to say.
"The
founder of my religion," boasted the priest, "stood on one shore
of a river with a writing brush in his hand. His disciple stood on the
other shore holding a sheet of paper. And the founder wrote the holy name
of Amida onto the paper across the river through air! Can you do anything
so miraculous?"
"No," said Bankei, "I can do only little miracles. "Like:
when I am hungry, I eat. When I am thirsty, I drink. When I am insulted,
I forgive."
