淨土論 3.9

3.9

Dharma Master Deng of the Sui era resided at Xingguo Monastery in Bingzhou. He went forth from the household life in his youth, diligently cultivating his practice; his mind for the Path became ever firmer, and he lectured on the entire Nirvana Sutra. Whenever monastics or laypeople came—whether young or old, down to novices and above—he would never permit them to pay visits standing, but would immediately have them sit down, expound the wondrous Dharma to them, orally transmit the name of Amitābha Buddha to those who came, and exhort them to attain rebirth together in the Western Pure Land. Furthermore, the practice of his entire life was to purify himself, burn incense, and recite chants, producing much merit; his compassion was exceedingly great, and flying birds, doves, and pigeons would constantly come to eat from his palms. During the twelfth year of the Kaihuang reign of the Sui, he reached the end of his life at his own monastery, at which time the entire assembly smelled an extraordinary fragrance. On the day his funeral procession took to the road, fragrant clouds from the west came to welcome him; people throughout the entire settlement and below the town walls smelled them, and regardless of whether they were old, young, male, or female, all escorted him to the forest cemetery. Since there were such signs, he must have attained rebirth in the Pure Land.