樂邦文類 3.95

3.95

宣和五年冬，予得越國夫人往生淨土事，迺為之記。六年吳思道訪馬（玗）於淮之南，加考實焉，益知前記。蓋馬氏自少師忠肅公，守杭州日，慈雲式懺主以安養佛事授之。自是舉族遵奉，相繼不違。大夫公諱（玗），字東玉者，乃其孫也。公自幼篤志佛教，元豐中有僧廣初者，以天台智者《十疑論》授之。公大喜曰：「吾得所依矣。」復得慈雲十念迴向法，行之二十五年不少懈。尚書公王（古）示以蓮社圖、決疑集、往生傳，於是誦佛益精進，尤以放生為佛事，勸導信入者不可勝計。倅當塗，守淄川、新定，民皆化之。平日未甞以私怒笞責一人。錢唐照律師，勉以繫念法。其在官，閱教藏誦經呪，皆有常規。崇寧元年，感疾經夏，盥櫛念佛，易衣幘，端坐而終。有氣如青蓋，出戶騰空而上。家人長幼貴賤，夢公往生上品者，後以十數日，皆如合契。時現光相於几筵。八月中有婢臥疾，亦念佛而逝。教授公諱（永逸），字強叟者，公之子也。行天竺十念，習十六觀，三十餘年矣。誦觀音，甞覩其相。今年四月感疾，即命治後事。見彌陀、觀音、勢至俱來接引，結印示滅。頂熱有異香，舍利如珠璣。其弟夢乃祖曰：「某已生淨土，十日華開矣。」柩上有五色金光，華者以數四，自後瑞應種種非一。夫人姓王氏，亦行十念法，及誦破地獄偈、彌陀佛號。甞夢地獄主者，謝為地獄眾持偈之賜。其後寢疾，修持不息，念佛而絕。親戚侍妾，亦夢王氏生極樂國。夫人與娣姒方氏，有報應往生傳。（余）因越國夫人之事，知馬公之生淨土。由馬公而知其子婦亦登樂國，故復敘其略以示信士，亦結未來之因乎。隨緣居士（黃策子虛）記。

In the winter of the fifth year of the Xuanhe era, I obtained the account of Lady of Yue State's rebirth in the Pure Land, and thereupon recorded it. In the sixth year, Wu Sidao visited Ma Yu south of the Huai River and further verified it, knowing all the more the truth of the previous record. For the Ma family, ever since Junior Preceptor Duke Zhongsu governed Hangzhou, Repentance Master Ciyun Shi had transmitted the Buddha affairs of Peaceful Nurture to him. From then on the entire clan followed and honored it, succeeding one another without deviation. The Grand Master, whose taboo name was Yu and style was Dongyu, was his grandson. From youth the Duke was devoted in aspiration to Buddhism. In the Yuanfeng era there was a monk named Guangchu, who gave him Tiantai Zhizhe's *Treatise on the Ten Doubts*. The Duke rejoiced greatly and said, 'I have found my refuge!' He also obtained Ciyun's method of the ten recitations for dedication of merit, practicing it for twenty-five years without the least slackness. Minister Wang Gu showed him the Lotus Society illustration, the *Collection on Resolving Doubts*, and the *Biographies of Rebirth*; thereupon his chanting of the Buddha's name became increasingly vigorous, and he especially took liberating life as his Buddha affair, advising and leading believers beyond count. As vice-prefect of Dangtu and governor of Zichuan and Xinding, the people were all transformed by him. In daily life he never flogged a single person out of personal anger. Vinaya Master Zhao of Qiantang encouraged him with the method of focusing mindfulness. While in official service, his perusal of the scriptural collections and intoning of sūtras and dhāraṇīs all had a regular schedule. In the first year of the Chongning era, falling ill through the summer, he washed, combed his hair, intoned the Buddha's name, changed his robe and cap, and passed away sitting upright. There was a vapor like a blue canopy that went out of the door, soaring upward into the sky. Family members, old and young, noble and base, dreamed of the Duke's rebirth in the highest grade; for ten days afterward, all their dreams tallied like two halves of a tally. At times, light forms appeared at the offering table. In the middle of the eighth month, a maidservant lay ill, and also passed away while reciting the Buddha's name. The Instructor, whose taboo name was Yongyi and style was Qiangsou, was the Duke's son. He had practiced the Tianzhu ten recitations and studied the sixteen contemplations for more than thirty years. Chanting Guanyin, he once beheld his form. In the fourth month of this year, falling ill, he immediately ordered the arrangement of his funeral affairs. He saw Amitābha, Guanyin, and Mahāsthāmaprāpta all come to receive and lead him, and forming a mudrā, he manifested cessation. His crown was warm and had an extraordinary fragrance, and his relics were like pearls. His younger brother dreamed of their grandfather, who said, 'I have already been born in the Pure Land; in ten days the flower will bloom.' Over the casket was five-colored golden light, blooming four or five times, and from then on auspicious signs were many and varied. His wife, Lady Wang, also practiced the ten recitations method, and chanted the verse on shattering hells and Amitābha Buddha's name. She once dreamed of the master of hell thanking her for the gift of holding the verse for the denizens of hell. Later, confined to bed with illness, her cultivation did not cease, and she expired reciting the Buddha's name. Relatives and concubines also dreamed of Lady Wang being born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. Between the Lady and her sister-in-law, Lady Fang, there was a record of rebirth by retribution. Because of the matter of Lady of Yue State, I knew of Duke Ma's rebirth in the Pure Land. From Duke Ma, I knew that his son and daughter-in-law also ascended to the Land of Bliss. Therefore I again narrate their brief account to show to faithful scholars, and perhaps also plant a cause for the future? Recorded by Upāsaka Suiyuan (Huang Ce, Zixu).