樂邦文類 3.136

3.136

The Xuanyi, whose taboo name was Yin and courtesy name was Dafu, was the son of Vice Minister Hu. By nature discerning and intelligent, his mind-ground was thoroughly luminous. He devoted himself solely to the classics and histories, taking special delight in chanting poetry. In his later years, he retired from government to the West Lake, enjoying the daily pleasures of roaming with companions. His heart was untroubled and level, and his public service and private life were simple and unconstrained. Although he had faith in and orientation toward the Buddha Vehicle, he had never practiced it exclusively. One day, his son said to Vinaya Master Qingzhao, “My father has fallen ill. I pray that the master will deign to visit him.” The master went to see him and said, “I, Huiheng, have been on good terms with Dafu all my life, yet we have never spoken of the great matter of the final step. How could you not know your place to settle body and establish life?” Dafu said, “When the mind is pure, the land is pure.” The master said, “Xuanyi, throughout the day, do you ever have defilements from stray thoughts?” He replied, “Since I dwell in the mundane world, how could I be free of stray thoughts?” The master said, “If so, how can mind be pure and land be pure?” Dafu then asked, “Reciting ‘Amitābha Buddha’ a single time can eradicate the grave transgressions of birth and death spanning eighty kotis of kalpas—why is that?” The master said, “According to the Lotus Sūtra, Amitābha Buddha cultivated practice through dust-mote kalpas. The Śūraṅgama Sūtra states: ‘I recall in the past, through kalpas like the sands of the Ganges, there was a buddha who appeared in the world named Immeasurable Light.’ Amitābha Buddha spent such time perfecting body and perfecting land; his circumstantial and primary rewards are adorned, he possesses great majesty and virtue, he has great vows, and his light and spiritual powers are inconceivable. For this reason, by reciting the great name of myriad virtues a single time, the grave transgressions of birth and death spanning eighty kotis of kalpas from the beginningless past of sentient beings are dissolved like frost and dew beneath a blazing sun.” Dafu thereupon had a great awakening, and only then realized that the power of Amitābha’s vows and merit were like this; he then single-mindedly engaged in buddha-mindfulness. Furthermore, for successive days he invited monks to assist in the recitation. When the Vinaya Master made the formal declaration, he called him “Lord Hu, the Xuanyi.” Dafu immediately said, “You must call me by the name Hu Yin.” The next day he invited them again; his disciples went ahead, and the Vinaya Master arrived later. Dafu asked, “Why have you arrived so late? We have already troubled Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta to descend and remain for a long time.” The master and the great assembly were all the more solemn and reverent. In the midst of reciting the buddha-name, Lord Hu peacefully passed away. Thus, though the lord had enjoyed a lifespan of eighty-four years and had not practiced during ordinary days, once the suffering of illness pressed upon him and he had nothing to rely upon, as soon as he heard of the benefits of Amitābha’s Dharma, he abruptly resolved his doubts and transcended directly to the Land of Bliss. This is what is meant by ‘a single thought turning back the light immediately transforms the perverse into the correct.’ Such was this person. Those who understand this path will skillfully follow in his footsteps, so as not to live this life in vain.