龍舒增廣淨土文 5.20

5.20

During the Zhenguan reign era, Shandao saw Chan Master Daochuo's Pure Land Bodhimanda of the Nine Grades at Xihe; thereupon he was earnest and diligent, persevering in bitter austerities as if putting out a fire on his head. Every time he entered the Buddha hall, he joined his palms, knelt in the western fashion, and single-mindedly recollected the Buddha, never resting until his strength was exhausted; even in freezing cold he would break into a sweat to express his utmost sincerity. When he came out, he would preach the Pure Land Dharma gate to the assembly, never lacking for a single moment in benefiting others. For over thirty years he never slept for a moment, taking pratyutpanna practice, circumambulating, and bowing to the Buddha in the vaipulya manner as his exclusive personal duty. He safeguarded the categories of precepts without violating the slightest hair, never once lifted his eyes to look at women, and abandoned thoughts of fame and gain, keeping far away from joking and laughter. Wherever he went, his body was pure and he received offerings; any excess food, drink, or clothing was wholly given away in charity. Fine food was sent to the great kitchen to offer to the assembly, while he ate coarse and poor fare himself; he drank and ate neither curds nor ghee. Whatever donations he received, he used to copy over one hundred thousand scrolls of the Amitābha-sūtra and paint over three hundred illustrations of the Pure Land transformation tableau. Whenever he saw damaged pagodas, he fully repaired and rebuilt them; lighting lamps to continue the illumination, he never ceased year after year. He never allowed others to carry or wash his three robes, water jar, or alms bowl, remaining unchanged from beginning to end. He did not walk together with the crowd, fearing that discussing worldly affairs would hinder his cultivation of practice. Those who successively received the Pure Land Dharma gate from him were beyond count. Someone once asked Shandao, "Does the good of recollecting the Buddha lead to rebirth in the Pure Land?" He answered, "According to your recollection, your vow will be fulfilled." Thereupon, as Shandao himself recited the name of Amitābha Buddha once, a ray of bright light came out from his mouth; from ten recitations up to a hundred recitations, the bright light was likewise so. His verse for admonishing and transforming said: "Gradually, chicken skin and crane hair; / Look, see the faltering, tottering steps. / Even if gold and jade fill the hall, / One cannot avoid decline, old age, and sickness. / Let there be a thousand kinds of pleasure; / Impermanence will arrive in the end. / There is only the shortcut of practice: / Simply recite the name of Amitābha Buddha." Later he said to people, "This body is repulsive; I am about to return to the West." He then climbed a willow tree in front of the monastery and threw himself down to end his life. Emperor Gaozong, seeing that bright light had emitted from his mouth when recollecting the Buddha, and that his dedication was so utmost when relinquishing his body, bestowed on the monastery the plaque name "Guangming" (Bright Light). The brief biography by Repentance Master Ciyun Zunshi of our dynasty states: "A transformation body of Amitābha Buddha came to Chang'an. Hearing the sound of the Chan River, he said: 'They can be taught to recollect the Buddha.' Three years later, the whole city of Chang'an was recollecting the Buddha." Later there was Great Master Fazhao, who was indeed the later rebirth of Shandao.