龍舒增廣淨土文 5.16

5.16

Tanluan originally obtained ten scrolls of immortal scriptures from the Recluse Tao. Tanluan was delighted and pleased with himself, believing that spiritual immortality could certainly be attained. Later, he met the monk Bodhiruci and asked, "Does the Buddha's path have long life? Can it ward off aging and death?" Bodhiruci said, "Long life and immortality are indeed our Buddha's path." He then gave him the Contemplation Sūtra in Sixteen Contemplations, saying, "If you recite this, then you will never again be reborn in the three realms or wander in the six destinies; waxing and waning, vanishing and thriving, misfortune and fortune, success and failure can never reach you. As for its lifespan, there is the kalpa-stone and the sands of the river. The number of grains of sand and stones is limited, but the measure of that lifespan is infinite. This is the long life of our Golden Immortal." Tanluan had deep faith in this, whereupon he burned the immortal scriptures and exclusively practiced the Contemplation Sūtra; even amidst seasonal changes of cold and heat or the onset of illness, he never grew remiss. The Wei sovereign favored his aspiration and noble intent, and also praised his self-cultivation and conversion of others, which spread very widely, giving him the title "Spiritual Luan." One day, he told his disciples, "The manifold sufferings of the hells cannot but be feared; the pure karma of the nine grades cannot but be cultivated." He then had his disciples recite the name of Amitābha Buddha in a loud voice, and facing west with closed eyes, he bowed his head and died. At that time, monastics and laypeople alike heard the sounds of pipes and strings coming from the west, which ceased only after a long while.