佛祖統紀 13.27

13.27

Zuo Shen was a native of Linhai. He received the Bodhisattva Precepts from Shenzhao of Dongye, who expounded to him the essentials of the Great Vehicle teachings; [Zuo Shen] was suddenly awakened as if from past habitual practice. In front of the assembly, Shenzhao patted his crown and bestowed a prediction. From then on, he strictly observed the monastic precepts and never compromised his integrity when confronting worldly matters. He carved statues of the Three Holy Ones of the Western Realm, reverently serving them morning and night, and recited the Lotus Sūtra 3,400 times and the Diamond Prajñā Sūtra 20,000 times. In the autumn of the second year of the Shaosheng reign period, he fell ill and took to his bed. He instructed the monk Jingyuan to chant the title of the Lotus Sūtra and re-received the Bodhisattva Precepts. Soon he dreamed of three stately figures standing on a riverbank summoning him to board a boat, which swiftly glided westward. Shen knew his departure was imminent, so he requested monks to recite the Amitābha Sūtra. Before they had finished, he said, “I have already seen the Buddha's light.” He then bathed, changed his clothes, warned those around him not to weep or crowd before him, chanted the Buddha's name, formed a mudrā, and passed away.