佛祖統紀 27.55

27.55

Xiongjun was a native of Chengdu and was skilled in preaching. Whenever he received money and goods, he inevitably spent them unlawfully. He also renounced the monastic life to join the army, but soon, fleeing hardship, he returned among the monks; the assembly largely feared and avoided him. Xiongjun heard that the sūtras say that ten recitations of the Buddha's name extinguish grave sins accumulated over eight billion kalpas. Delighted, he said, 'I can rely on this!' From then on, whenever he committed a sin, his mouth would immediately recite the Buddha's name. Yet it was as if half-hearted, just like an actor putting on a play. One evening he died suddenly. The King of the Netherworld said, 'You were summoned by mistake; however, you have accumulated much evil and ought to pass briefly through torment.' He then ordered the ox-headed lictors to drive him into hell. Xiongjun cried out loudly, 'Ten recitations of Amitābha Buddha can extinguish the grave sins of eight billion kalpas! Moreover, I have not committed the five heinous sins or the ten unwholesome deeds, and I have recited the Buddha's name many times—how could I come to this?' The hell wardens dared not mistreat him and reported his words to the King. The King summoned him and said, 'Your recitation of the Buddha lacked deep faith; you may return to the world for a time to renew your initial resolve.' Xiongjun repeatedly recounted this to others, and people at the time called him 'the one who slipped through the net of hell.' Xiongjun then went into the Western Mountains to recite the Buddha's name with undivided concentration. Four years later, his peers came to visit him. Xiongjun said joyfully, 'You see with your own eyes and know: you should proclaim that Xiongjun, through the power of reciting the Buddha's name, has attained rebirth in the Pure Land—do not take me as one who merely slipped through the net of hell!' As soon as he finished speaking, he passed away while sitting.