廬山蓮宗寶鑑 4.63

4.63

The National University jinshi Wang Rixiu had the courtesy name Xuzhong. His wisdom in self-cultivation and compassion in transforming others have already appeared in Zhang Yuhu's preface, and are not recounted here again. The gentleman was a native of Longshu and authored the *Pure Land Texts*, hence his title. His writings circulated widely throughout the realm, and none who cultivated pure karma failed to read them. During the Qiandao reign, Li Yanbi of Luling contracted an epidemic illness and was on the brink of death, with his coffin and outer coffin already prepared. He suddenly dreamed of a man of clear spirit and archaic countenance, massaging his limbs with his hands. Startled, Bi asked who he was, and he answered: "I am Upāsaka Longshu." Bi then told him of his illness, and the gentleman said: "Arise, and you will recover once you eat white congee." He further asked: "Do you still remember Kan Zhongya teaching you the shortcut?" Bi said: "I recite the Buddha's name daily without ceasing." When Bi woke up, he asked for white congee and ate it, and his illness indeed was cured. Later, when he saw the gentleman's painted portrait, it was just as he had seen him in his dream. Bi revered the gentleman, describing their bond as kin across life and death, and sent his son and nephew from afar to study under him. One day they suddenly returned, saying: "On a certain night, after finishing his lecture on texts, the upāsaka performed his customary homage and mindfulness. At the third watch, he suddenly cried out the name of Amitābha Buddha several times in a loud voice. He declared: 'The Buddha has come to receive me!' and passed away standing firmly upright. On that night, people of the region dreamed of two youths in green leading the gentleman westward. Furthermore, three days earlier, he had bid farewell to all his fellow practitioners on the Way, encouraging them to cultivate pure karma, and spoke words saying they would not see each other again." Ah! Unless one has comprehended the principle of the Mind-only fundamental nature and penetrated the reckoning of birth, death, and transformation, one could not attain this. Some doubted whether Li's dream was merely formed from imagination, but Bi said: "His pointing out that white congee would cure the illness—how could that be deceptive?" At that time, the Grand Councilor, Duke of the State of Yi, Zhou Bida, witnessed the gentleman's extraordinary traces and composed a praise for him: "Majestic, yet seeking nothing; / vigilant, yet without sorrow. / Pitying the decadent customs about to collapse, / he gathered all good deeds into a common flow. / Guiding them with the source of benevolence and righteousness, / enticing them with the bliss of extinction. / The world knows how to act, but does not recognize non-action; / therefore in mid-course he suddenly departed, revealing to people true awakening." Gentleman Li was reverent and earnest, and having no other means to repay this virtue, he had the gentleman's portrait and deeds carved [on printing blocks] to transmit them far and wide. From then on, every household in Luling made offerings to him.