佛祖統紀 27.24

27.24

曇鸞。初為術學就陶隱居得仙經。還洛下遇菩提流支。問曰。佛道有長生乎。支笑曰。長生不死吾佛道也。即授以觀經曰。能解此則三界無復生。六道無復轉。師承其語遂焚毀仙經。晝夜專誦觀經修三福業。觀想九品。北魏主嘉之號神鸞。勅住汾州玄中寺。一夕正持誦。見梵僧入室。謂曰。吾龍樹也。以汝有淨土之念。故來見汝。鸞曰。何以教我。僧曰。已去不可及。未來未可追。見在今何在。白駒難與回。言訖不見。鸞即令弟子同音唱佛。西向瞑目而化。

Tanluan originally studied occult arts and obtained texts on immortals from Tao Hongjing. When he returned to Luoyang, he met Bodhiruci and asked, “Is there longevity in the Buddha's path?” Bodhiruci laughed and said, “Longevity and immortality belong to our Buddha's path.” He then handed him the Contemplation Sūtra, saying, “If you can understand this, you will never again be reborn in the three realms or transmigrate through the six destinies.” Tanluan accepted his words and thereupon burned the texts on immortals. Day and night, he devoted himself to reciting the Contemplation Sūtra, cultivating the three kinds of meritorious karma, and contemplating the nine grades of rebirth. The ruler of the Northern Wei praised him, gave him the title Divine Luan, and decreed that he reside at Xuanzhong Temple in Fenzhou. One evening while reciting, he saw an Indian monk enter his chamber, who said to him, “I am Nāgārjuna. Because you cherish thoughts of the Pure Land, I have come to see you.” Luan asked, “What will you teach me?” The monk said, “What has already passed cannot be reached; what is yet to come cannot be pursued. Where is the present right now? The white colt is difficult to turn back.” When he finished speaking, he disappeared. Luan immediately ordered his disciples to chant the Buddha's name in unison, turned toward the west, closed his eyes, and passed away.