龍舒增廣淨土文 7.10

7.10

There was Elder Huigu, who first dwelt at Taiping in Shuzhou, and later dwelt in a great monastery in eastern Zhejiang; he was also an elder monk renowned for his conduct. Upon death he was born into the family of a prime minister, and in his subsequent life passed the highest civil examination, which the world certainly considered an honor. Yet this was a great error in calculation. Why is this? In his previous life he observed the vegetarian precepts, but in this life he eats meat, and must regard eating meat as delicious. In his previous life he practiced pure cultivation, but in this life he approaches sexual desire, and must regard sexual desire as wonderful. In his previous life he was calm and tranquil, but in this life he enjoys wealth and nobility, and must regard wealth and nobility as wonderful. This is like stepping into mud: with every step, one sinks a step deeper; what can be done? The Śūraṅgama-sūtra says, "When that which is heard is exhausted, the exhaustion of hearing does not abide. When awareness and that which is awoken are emptied, the awareness of emptiness is consummate and complete." This means that the things heard are exhausted, and one exhausts hearing such that it does not abide. Therefore, although one enjoys pleasure in the world, what can one do about its non-abiding? Because it does not abide, it passes away; because it passes away, it cannot endure. Furthermore, awareness realizes that all which is awoken returns to emptiness; being empty, it has no reality. If one can truly realize awareness in this emptiness, then the sincerity of true awakening is consummate and complete, and one will never fall again. Had Elder Gu awakened to this principle, he certainly would not have remained in the prime minister's house. Even if he had not yet been able to awaken to and clarify his true nature, he could at least have cultivated [rebirth in] the West to escape transmigration. The Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra states that worldly practitioners are like settling muddy water: although settling it makes it clear, the sediment of mud has not been removed, and stirring it makes it turbid again. This refers to [someone like] Elder Gu. If one is born in the West, sees the Buddha, and attains the Way, then returning to be born in this world is like scouring away the sediment of mud: it becomes purely clear water, which will not become turbid again even if stirred. Therefore, even an elder monk renowned for his conduct cannot fail to cultivate [rebirth in] the West. Elder Gu is sufficient as a warning.