佛祖統紀 26.45

26.45

Huigong was a native of Fengcheng in Yuzhang. Together with Sengguang, Huikan, and Huilan, he shared the same aspiration to study. Guang and the others were not as learned as Gong, but in fixing their thoughts upon the Pure Land they surpassed him. Lan said to Gong: "Although you study diligently and are broadly learned, do you not know what the sūtra says: 'Like a deaf person playing music, pleasing others without hearing it oneself'?" Gong said: "Learning cannot be stopped; who can remain ignorant like a fool before dying?" Seven years later, Lan and the others passed away first, each with miraculous responses at the time. Another five years later, Gong became gravely ill and said: "When will this drifting along the Great Dao come to a stop? In coming and going through life and death, where shall I return?" Thereupon he kowtowed and wept like rain, vowing his mind to the Land of Peace and Sustenance and contemplating without the slightest interruption. Suddenly he saw Amitāyus Buddha approaching to welcome him with a golden platform. Gong mounted it, and saw Lan and the others within the radiance atop the platform, who told him: "The elder's rebirth has already attained the superior grade; we are overjoyed beyond measure. We only regret that you were delayed in the five turbidities and that we rely upon each other so late." On that day, Gong reported this to the community, joyfully sped away, and passed into extinction. This occurred in the eleventh year of Yixi (the Mountain Lu Collection contains the account of the monk Gong's spiritual responses at the time of death).