樂邦文類 3.138

3.138

Wang Rixiu, an advanced scholar (jinshi) of the National Academy, had the courtesy name Xuzhong. The gentleman’s wisdom in his own practice and his compassion in transforming others have already appeared in Zhang Yuhu’s preface, so they will not be repeated here. The gentleman was a man of Longshu and wrote the Pure Land Texts (Jingtu wen), whence he took his sobriquet. His writings circulated widely throughout the realm, and none who cultivated pure karma failed to read them. During the Qiandao reign era, Li Yanbi of Luling contracted an epidemic disease and fell into critical condition; the inner and outer coffins were already prepared. Suddenly he dreamed of a person of pure spirit and archaic countenance massaging his limbs with his hands. Startled, Bi asked who he was, and he answered, “I am Layman Longshu.” Bi then reported his illness to him, and the gentleman said, “Rise, eat plain congee, and you will recover.” He also said, “Do you still remember Que Zhongya teaching you the shortcut?” Bi said, “Reciting the buddha-name every day without ceasing.” When Bi awoke, he asked for plain congee and ate it; his illness was indeed cured. Later, when he saw the gentleman's painted portrait, it was just as he had seen him in the dream. Bi revered the gentleman, calling him a kinsman of life and death, and thereupon sent his sons and nephews from afar to study under him. One day they suddenly returned, saying: “After finishing lecturing on texts one night, the layman performed his bows and recitations as usual. At the third watch, he suddenly called out ‘Amitābha Buddha’ loudly several times and cried aloud, ‘The Buddha has come to receive me!’ and passed away standing resolutely. That night, people of the region dreamed of two youths in blue garments leading the gentleman westward. Furthermore, three days prior, he had bid farewell to all his fellow practitioners on the path, encouraging them to advance in pure karma, and uttered words to the effect that they would not meet again.” Ah! Were it not for understanding the path of the original nature of mind-only and fathoming the measures of the transformations of life and death, one could not attain this. Some doubted whether Li’s dream had been formed merely from thinking of him. Bi said, “How could his pointing out that plain congee would cure the illness be a deception?” At that time, Prime Minister and Duke of the State of Yi, Zhou (Bida), observed the gentleman’s miraculous traces and composed a eulogy for him, which said: “Resplendent, yet seeking nothing; vigilant, yet without sorrow. Pitying the decadent customs on the verge of ruin, he embraced all good deeds to flow together with them; he guided them with the source of benevolence and righteousness, and enticed them with the joy of quiescent cessation. The world knows his active undertakings, yet none comprehends his non-action. Therefore, departing suddenly midway, he manifested true awakening to men.” Gentleman Li, being conscientious and earnest, had no other way to repay this virtue, so he carved the gentleman's portrait along with his deeds to transmit them far and wide; from then on, every household in Luling made offerings to him. Nine years later, Nie Yundi, a faithful layman of the Xuyi Military Prefecture, admiring the gentleman's exalted conduct as extraordinary and deserving of being set into immortality, had it carved on stone in the Amitābha Hall of the Bao’en Temple. In the fourth year of the Qingyuan reign era, Former Assistant Staff Supervisor Lord Zeng Xun of Yue, perceiving the world to be illusory and dwelling in purity, revered Longshu and resolved to journey to the West. Having recently obtained these stone rubbings through his elder brother's official travels, and wishing that all people might emulate him, he repeatedly had it carved on woodblocks and distributed throughout Jiangzhe. His mind to skillfully guide others was truly in perfect harmony with Gentleman Wang’s. One day, I (Zongxiao) visited the lord's residence, and he graciously brought it out to show me. I have therefore picked out the beginning and end of these events to transmit them to immortality.