樂邦遺稿 1.71

1.71

The *Shishi yaolan* states: "Master Yuan of the Eastern Jin was a man of Yanmen. Residing at Tiger Creek on Mount Lu, he gathered eighteen worthy gentlemen to cultivate the pure karma of the West, digging ponds and planting white lotus flowers. Furthermore, Amitābha Buddha's land uses lotus flowers divided into nine grades to receive people in succession; hence it was called the Lotus Society. Some also say: Admiring that the people of this society were not stained by the mud of fame and profit, being likened to lotus flowers, it was named on that account. Yet others say: Master Yuan had a disciple named Fayao who was able to carve wood into twelve lotus flowers and place them in the water using a mechanical device; whenever a petal unfolded, it marked one double-hour, without differing from a water clock, ensuring that paying homage and recitation did not miss the proper time. Because of this, they named their society the Lotus Society."