佛祖統紀 41.35

41.35

On the third day of the tenth month of the twenty-first year, Śramaṇa Shaokang of Xinding radiated light and passed away. Earlier, when the Master arrived at Baima Temple in Luoyang, he saw writings inside the hall emitting light. Upon inspecting them, they were the Western Liturgy texts of Upādhyāya Shandao. Thereupon, he went to the Portrait Hall of Guangming Temple in Chang'an and laid out grand offerings. Suddenly, he saw the legacy portrait of the Teacher ascend into mid-air and say, 'You uphold my teachings to benefit living beings; through your merit, you will surely be born in the Land of Peaceful Nurturance.' When he went south to Jiangling, he met a monk on the road who said, 'If you wish to convert people, you should go to Xinding (now Yanzhou).' Having spoken, he disappeared. The Master then went into the commandery to beg for money and entice young children to recite the Buddha's name. After more than a month, many children recited the Buddha's name to seek money. After one year like this, young or old, noble or base, anyone who saw the Master would utter 'Amitābha Buddha.' He then established a bodhimaṇḍa, gathered the assembly, ascended the seat, and chanted the Buddha's name once in a loud voice. The assembly saw a Buddha emerge from his mouth; when he chanted ten times, there were ten Buddhas, like strung pearls.