宋高僧傳 6.6

6.6

釋懷感，不知何許人也。秉持強悍，精苦從師，義不入神，未以為得。四方同好就霧市焉。唯不信：念佛少時，逕生安養。疑氷未冸，遂謁善導，用決猶豫。導曰：「子傳教度人，為信後講，為渺茫無詣？」感曰：「諸佛誠言，不信不講。」導曰：「若如所見，令念佛往生。豈是魔說耶？子若信之，至心念佛，當有證驗。」乃入道場三七日，不覩靈瑞。感自恨罪障深，欲絕食畢命。導不許，遂令精虔，三年念佛。後忽感靈瑞，見金色玉毫，便證念佛三昧。悲恨宿垢業重，妄搆眾愆，懺悔發露，乃述《決疑論》七卷（即《群疑論》是也）。臨終，果有化佛來迎，合掌面西而往矣。

Shi Huaigan was a man of unknown origins. Resolute and unyielding in conduct, he applied himself diligently under his teacher; if an interpretation did not penetrate into the divine, he did not consider it mastered. Like-minded companions from all quarters gathered around him like clouds at a market. Yet he alone did not believe that by reciting the Buddha's name for a short time, one could be directly reborn in the Land of Peace and Sustenance (Sukhāvatī). With the ice of doubt still unmelted, he went to visit Shandao to resolve his hesitation. Shandao said: 'When you transmit the teachings to save people, do you preach after having faith, or is it vague and without foundation?' Gan said: 'These are the sincere words of all the Buddhas; without faith, I would not preach.' Shandao said: 'If it is as you see it, instructing people to recite the Buddha's name for rebirth—could that be the teaching of Māra? If you believe it, recite the Buddha's name with utmost sincerity, and there will surely be verification.' Huaigan thereupon entered the bodhimaṇḍa for three weeks, but saw no auspicious signs. Regretting his heavy karmic obstructions, Gan wished to end his life by fasting. Shandao did not permit it, and instead had him apply himself devoutly to reciting the Buddha's name for three years. Later, he suddenly experienced an auspicious sign, beholding a golden-colored jade-like white curl (ūrṇā), and thereupon realized the Buddha-recitation samādhi. Lamenting with sorrow that his past defilements and karmic baggage were heavy and that he had falsely conceived numerous faults, he repented and exposed his wrongs, and composed the Treatise Resolving Doubts in seven rolls (which is the Qunyi lun). When his end drew near, a transformed Buddha indeed came to welcome him; joining his palms and facing west, he departed.