淨土論 3.7

3.7

Dharma Master Fangqi was a native of Huayin. In the ninth year of Zhenguan, he spent a summer retreat at Wuzhen Monastery in Lantian County with Dharma Master Xuanguo, reciting [the name of] Amitābha Buddha. He then took a willow branch, placed it in the hand of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, and made a vow, saying: 'If through mindfulness of the Buddha I am to attain rebirth, I pray that this willow branch will not wither for seven days.' In accordance with his vow, it did not wither for seven days. This monk further prayed on behalf of all sentient beings, saying: 'Whereas in the Mahāyānasaṃgraha it is judged to have the meaning of another time, the Guan jing says one is reborn immediately. I pray to see Amitābha Buddha in a dream to resolve this doubt.' Thereupon, that very night, while remaining in one place, he had three dreams. In the first dream, he was beside a large pond. To the southwest there was a tall tower; this monk descended from the tower and came to the northeast bank of the pond, where he saw a jewelled canopy more than twenty cubits high, with a door opening to the east. This monk suddenly flew into the canopy; half of his body was able to enter, and then came out again. Going down to the west of the canopy, there was a great hall, inside of which he saw an elder venerable who told him: 'Only practice the deeds of the Pure Land, and you will all be born within this canopy.' He then woke up, and again had another dream. On the northern bank of the pond, he saw the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara seated facing north with feet pendant. This monk then held the Bodhisattva's feet in his hands and placed them atop his head, seeing the marks of a thousand-spoked wheel beneath the feet; the Bodhisattva's body was of Jāmbūnada gold. Suddenly he awoke, and again had another dream. On the south side of the pond, standing facing west, from the pond westward was all a great body of water, full of lotus flowers. Suddenly he saw Amitābha Buddha coming from the west, arriving before this monk. This monk touched his head and face to the ground in worship. When the worship was finished, he knelt on his right knee before the Buddha with palms joined and asked: 'If sentient beings of the Sahā world cultivate according to the scriptures, will they be able to be born in the World-Honoured One's realm, or not?' The Buddha then replied: 'Good son! All sentient beings, if they only cultivate the practices of the Pure Land, will all be born in my realm. Do not give rise to doubt.' Furthermore, on another night, this monk dreamt that his own body was in the Sahā world. Turning his head and looking to the west, he saw that Amitābha's Buddha-land was flat as a mirror, while seeing that the Sahā world was entirely mountains and rivers separated east and west. Looking southward, he saw fifteen jewelled canopies in the southern plain river valley going westward; the others were all made of the seven treasures, while only the single canopy in the centre was a white silver canopy. Beneath the canopies there was music throughout, with songs and praises. This monk asked: 'What canopies are these?' The people beneath the canopies answered: 'These are all people who have attained rebirth.' This monk was filled with joy, and leaping up into the air, he flew toward the west, stopping after a short while. Again, on another night, he dreamt he was inside a Buddha hall; directly before the Buddha there was a monk named Dharmākara driving a great chariot, who approached inside the Buddha hall to welcome him and have him board the chariot, carrying him away toward the west. Dharmākara is none other than Amitābha Buddha; the chariot is the forty-eight great vows. Again, on another night, he dreamt that his own body was seated on a lion-seat of a hundred-jeweled lotus king, facing south with feet pendant, having attained correct awakening. Again, on another night, he dreamt that Śākyamuni Tathāgata, together with Mañjuśrī, stood before this monk, praising the Lotus Sutra. Again, on another night, he dreamt there were three great paths leading straight toward the west. On the first path were exclusively monks and nuns; on the second path were entirely laypeople, a mixture of men and women; on the third path there was only a single monk. They were all going westward, and it was said they were all people who had attained rebirth. This monk is presently still alive.