高僧傳 6.48

6.48

Later, after staying on the mountain for a short time, he suddenly contracted a grave illness; thereupon he directed his sincere devotion to the Western Land, visualizing Amitābha. Huiyuan sent Sengji a candle, saying: 'You may establish your mind on the Land of Peace and Sustenance (Sukhāvatī), racing against the water clock.' Sengji held the candle, leaned on his armrest, and fixed his visualization without distraction. He also requested the assembly of monks to gather at night to turn the Sukhāvatīvyūha-sūtra for him. By the fifth watch of the night, Sengji gave the candle to his fellow student, instructing that it be passed along within the assembly of monks. Then he lay down briefly, and in a dream saw himself holding a candle, traveling through the void; he beheld the Buddha of Immeasurable Life (Amitāyus), who took him up and placed him on his palm, reaching everywhere in the ten directions. Unawares, he suddenly awoke and fully recounted this to those attending to his illness. Both sorrowful and consoled, he examined his own four great elements and found not the slightest illness or suffering. By the next evening, he suddenly asked for his sandals and stood up, gazing into the empty void as if he saw something. In a moment he lay back down, his expression even more joyful, and thereupon said to the people beside him: 'I am going!' Thereupon turning onto his right side, his breath and speech ceased simultaneously. His age was forty-five.