廬山蓮宗寶鑑 8.12

8.12

When Monk Sengji, a disciple of the Venerable of Mount Lu, was at the point of death, the Venerable bequeathed him a candle, saying: "You may direct your contemplation to the West." Holding the candle, Ji directed his contemplation to the Golden Countenance, gathering his mind without distraction, and furthermore requested the assembly of monks to recite the Sixteen Contemplations Sūtra. At the fifth watch, Ji handed the candle to his fellow monk and took a brief nap. Upon waking, he said: "In a dream I saw Amitābha Buddha lower his hands to guide and receive me. I must now depart." Having spoken, he passed away lying on his right side. Were this not the cultivation and perfuming of precepts, samādhi, and wisdom, how could he have spoken so gently with a calm countenance upon the shore of birth and death? As the saying goes: / Having found the path, one proceeds without hindrance; / Effortlessly passing over the barrier of birth and death.