龍舒增廣淨土文 5.28

5.28

In the beginning of the Zhenyuan reign era, Shaokang arrived at Baima Monastery in Luoyang. Seeing texts in the hall repeatedly emitting bright light, he reached for and took them; they were Shandao's text on transforming and guiding toward the West. Shaokang said, "If I have an affinity with the Pure Land, let this text emit bright light again." Before he finished speaking, light flashed. He then went to Shandao's portrait hall in Chang'an and laid out grand offerings. Shandao said from the sky, "If you rely on my work to benefit and gladden sentient beings, then your merit will bring you to be reborn together in Peaceful Nourishment." He also met a monk who said to him, "If you wish to transform people, you should go to Xinding." Having spoken, he disappeared. Xinding is modern Yanzhou. When he arrived there, the people did not yet know him. Shaokang then begged for coins and enticed children, making an agreement with them: "Amitābha Buddha is your original teacher. If you can recite his name once, I will give you one coin." The children strove to get the coins and recited in response to his voice. More than a month later, many children recited the Buddha's name seeking coins, so Shaokang said, "Only if you recite the Buddha's name ten times will I give you a coin." The children complied with him. After one year like this, whether old or young, noble or base, whenever they met him they would invoke Amitābha Buddha; for this reason, people recollecting the Buddha filled the roadways. Later, Shaokang established a Pure Land bodhimanda on Mount Wulong, building a three-tiered altar and gathering people to circumambulate at midnight. Shaokang ascended the seat and had the people face west. Shaokang first chanted the name of Amitābha Buddha, and then the assembly joined in harmony. When Shaokang chanted, the assembly saw a Buddha emerge from his mouth; when he chanted ten times continuously, there were ten Buddhas, like a string of pearls. Shaokang said, "Do you see the Buddha? If you see the Buddha, you are certain to be reborn in the Pure Land." Among the several thousand people paying homage to the Buddha, there were also some who never saw anything. Later he instructed the assembly: "You should give rise to a mind of advancement toward Peaceful Nourishment, and give rise to a mind of revulsion and detachment toward Jambudvīpa." He also said, "If you can see the bright light at this time, you are truly my disciples." He then emitted several rays of extraordinary light and died.