釋氏稽古略 3.255

3.255

Painting of the Buddha Amitābha: In this year, the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, Bai Juyi, died at the age of seventy-five. He was posthumously granted the title of Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. Bai lived in fraternal affection with his younger brothers Xingjian and Minzhong. He resided in the Lüdao Ward in Luoyang, where he dredged ponds, planted trees, and erected a stone pavilion. At Xiangshan he cleared the Bajie Shoals. He styled himself Master Zuinyin, and also called himself the Layman of Xiangshan. He held drinking banquets with Hu Jing and eight others, all of whom were men of advanced age who did not serve in office; admirers depicted them in the "Painting of the Nine Elders." After his death, his residence was donated to become a Buddhist monastery. The Junior Tutor had once painted an image of Amitābha Buddha and worshipped it. He composed a record himself, which stated in brief: "My fundamental teacher, Śākyamuni Tathāgata, taught that in the west there is a world named Ultimate Bliss, because it is free of the eight sufferings and the four evil destinies. That land is named Pure Land, because it is free of the karma of the three poisons and five turbidities. That Buddha is named Amitābha, because his lifespan is immeasurable, his vows are immeasurable, and his merit, marks, and radiance are immeasurable. Looking closely at this Sahā world, whether beings are wise or foolish, noble or base, young or old, whenever any generate the intention to take refuge in the Buddha and raise their hands in joined palms, they invariably face the west. When they face terror, distress, and suffering, when they open their mouths and give voice, they invariably first recite Amitābha. Furthermore, in casting metal, mixing clay, carving stone, and embroidering patterns, and even in imprinting water or gathering sand, when children play, none do not take Amitābha Buddha as primary. Not knowing why it is so, yet it is so. Observing from this, it is clear that that Tathāgata has great vows toward these beings, and beings have great affinity with that land. Were it not so, there are many Buddhas of the south, north, east, past, present, and future—why should it be uniquely like this? I, the Tang Grand Master for Palace Attendance and Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince Bai Juyi, facing my declining years and suffering from paralysis caused by wind stroke, thereupon gave up three hundred thousand in salary coins and commissioned artisans to paint a depiction of the Western World, with Amitābha Buddha seated in the center and the two Great Beings Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta attending on the left and right. When humans and gods gaze in reverence, the merit is accomplished. Disciple Juyi bows his head and kneels before the Buddha, wishing to dedicate this merit to all beings. For those beings who are old like me and sick like me, may they leave suffering and attain bliss, sever evil and cultivate goodness; without passing beyond the Southern Continent, may they behold the West, attain rebirth according to their vows on the highest rank of the blue lotus, and always be close [to the Buddha] in the present and future." Desiring to proclaim this meaning once more, he spoke in praise: "The World of Ultimate Bliss is a pure land, / Free from all evil destinies and manifold sufferings. / May those who are old and sick like my own body / Be reborn together in the abode of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life" (Collected Works of Letian).