佛祖統紀 27.56

27.56

Sengxuan was a native of Bingzhou. At first, he was mindful of Maitreya, expecting to be born in the Inner Court. At the age of ninety, he met Chan Master Chuo and heard the teachings on the Pure Land, whereupon he turned his mind toward it. Morning and evening he performed a thousand prostrations to the Buddha and recited the Buddha's name ten thousand times. Three years later he fell ill and told his disciples, 'Amitābha Buddha has conferred upon me fragrant robes; Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta have revealed their jeweled hands to me. I am departing!' After he passed away, the extraordinary fragrance did not dissipate for seven days. At that time, the two masters Qifang and Yuanguo witnessed this event with their own eyes. Thereupon, before the image of Avalokiteśvara at Wuzhen Monastery, they broke a willow branch and placed it in the hand of the image, making a vow: 'If Fang and the others have an affinity with the Pure Land, let this branch not wither for seven days.' When the time arrived, the branch was even more luxuriant. Qifang and Yuanguo rejoiced and clapped their hands, contemplating without cessation day and night. Several months later, they suddenly felt themselves overlooking the Seven-Jewel Pond and entering a great jeweled pavilion; they saw the Buddha and the two Great Beings seated on jeweled flower pedestals, their radiant light shining brightly. Qifang and Yuanguo stepped forward and paid homage. The Buddha told them, 'Because you recite my name, you will all be born in my land.' They also saw jeweled banners and pearl nets, and an Indian monk driving a jeweled chariot said to them, 'I am Dharmākara; I have come specifically to welcome you.' Qifang and Yuanguo suddenly felt themselves riding the chariot forward, and they also heard Śākyamuni Buddha and Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva praising the Pure Land with Brahmā sounds. Within the jeweled hall were three tiers of jeweled steps: the first tier was composed entirely of laypeople; the second tier was half monks and half laity; the third tier was monks alone. The Buddha pointed and said to Fang, 'These are all people from Jambudvīpa who recited the Buddha's name and attained birth in this land.' Five days later, both men were free of illness and suddenly heard the sound of a bell. Qifang and Yuanguo said, 'The sound of the bell is our business.' At that very moment, both passed away together.