佛祖統紀 28.82

28.82

The Disciple of the Buddha, Lady Qin, [styled] Jingle, was from Qiantang. Her husband was surnamed Yu, whose occupation was selling fish. She had a son engaged in contraband trade who was constantly embroiled in official litigations. Lady Qin was so sorrowful and distressed that she almost drowned herself in the river. She encountered Master Zhao of Jingzhu Monastery, who advised her, saying, 'Having such afflictions is due to past-life adversaries. To drown yourself in the river in vain is not as good as reciting the Buddha's name.' Lady Qin awoke to this and turned her mind; she thereupon burned off a finger, vowed to observe perpetual vegetarianism and the 'three whites,' and recited the Buddha's name for ten years without slackening. Whenever she saw anyone, she addressed them as 'disciple of the Buddha.' One day she invited monks of pure conduct to chant the Contemplation Sūtra; for each contemplation, they recited the Buddha's name a thousand times. When they reached the Contemplation of the Image, she suddenly passed away.