佛祖統紀 42.30

42.30

Yang Hangong, Commander of the Left Imperial Guard, petitioned on the basis of his meritorious service in planning the succession to restore the Buddhist religion, and begged that the Dharma master Zhixuan be sought out. Thereupon [Zhixuan] returned to the sangha and took up residence at Baoying Monastery. On the occasion of the Shouchang Festival, he expounded the praises and was appointed Chief of the Three Teachings. Using his old residence, the Emperor founded Fagan Monastery and commanded the Master to dwell there. Bai Juyi died and was posthumously awarded the title of Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. In his later years, Juyi esteemed Buddhism, going whole months without eating meat. He donated his residence to make Xiangshan Monastery and called himself the Layman of Xiangshan. He once wrote a verse of praise, saying: 'Throughout the worlds of the ten directions, above the heavens and beneath the heavens, I now know fully: there is none like the Buddha. Majestic and grand, the teacher of gods and humans; therefore I bow to his feet, praise him, and take refuge.' In the early Huichang era, a passenger boat met with a storm and drifted to a great mountain. A Daoist said, 'This is Mount Penglai.' One courtyard was locked very securely; [the Daoist] said, 'This is where Bai Letian is to reside; he is still in the Central Kingdom and has not yet arrived.' Letian heard of this and composed a poem, saying: 'I study true emptiness, not immortality; I fear this talk of yours is an empty rumor. The mountain in the sea is not where I return; if I return, I must return to the Tuṣita Heaven.' Letian once made a vow, saying: 'I encouraged one hundred and forty-eight people to unite with a single resolve, forming an Association for Ascending to Rebirth. Walking, we recite the name of the Compassionate One; sitting, we visualize the form of the Compassionate One. We vow that in a future life we will certainly be born in Tuṣita.' In his later years, afflicted with wind-paralysis, he ordered an artisan to paint a depiction of the Western Pure Land, which he worshipped day and night, praising it thus: 'The pure land of the World of Ultimate Bliss has no evil destinies or multitude of sufferings. May those who, like myself, are old and sick, be born together in the abode of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life.' One evening, while reciting the Buddha's name, he suddenly passed away.