They had no children to aid in their toil, and
daily the woman addressed her prayers for a son to the
Bodhisattwa Kwannon, the Lady of Pity who looketh down for ever
upon the sound of prayer. Very fervently she prayed, with such
offerings as her poverty allowed, and on a certain night she
dreamed this dream. At the shrine of the Senju Kwannon she knelt
as was her custom, and that Great Lady, sitting enthroned upon
the Lotos of Purity, opened Her eyes slowly from Her divine
contemplation and heard the prayer of the wood-cutter's wife.
Then stooping like a blown willow branch, she gathered a bud from
the golden lotos plant that stood upon her altar, and breathing
upon it it became pure white and living, and it exhaled a perfume
like the flowers of Paradise, This flower the Lady of Pity flung
into the bosom of her petitioner, and closing Her eyes returned
into Her divine dream, whilst the woman awoke, weeping for joy.
But when she sought in her bosom for the Lotos it was gone. Of
all this she boasted loudly to her folk and kin, and the more
so, when in due time she perceived herself to be with child,
for, from that august favour she looked for nothing less than a
son, radiant with the Five Ornaments of riches, health,
longevity, beauty, and success.
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