大明高僧傳 1.17

1.17

釋了然號志涌。出家郡之白蓮寺。講演天台教觀二十餘年。精勵後學白業潛修。日惟一餐常坐達旦。一夕夢。二龍雲中交戲空際忽然化為神人。從空而降謁師。且於衣袖出一書示曰。師七日後當行西歸。了然既寤知是往生之應。乃撾鼓集眾。登座說法遺囑後事。已而書偈曰。因念佛力得生樂國。凡汝諸人可不自逸。即索浴更衣。命眾同聲誦彌陀經。至西方世界倏然而化。一眾皆聞天樂之音盈空。祥光燭於天表。

Shi Liaoran was styled Zhiyong. He went forth from home at Bailian Monastery in his prefecture. He lectured on the Tiantai doctrine and contemplation for more than twenty years, energetically encouraging later students and secretly cultivating pure karma. He ate only one meal a day and regularly sat upright until dawn. One night he dreamed that two dragons were playing amid clouds in the sky, when suddenly they transformed into divine beings, descending from the sky to call upon the Master. Drawing a letter from their sleeves, they showed it to him, saying: "Master, after seven days, you shall travel and return to the West." When Liaoran woke, he knew it was a response indicating rebirth [in the Pure Land]. Thereupon he struck the drum to assemble the community, ascended the seat to expound the Dharma, and bequeathed his final instructions. Soon after, he wrote a gāthā: / "By the power of recollecting the Buddha, I attain birth in the Land of Joy; / May all of you not indulge yourselves in laxity!" / He then requested a bath and changed his robes, instructing the assembly to chant the Amitābha Sūtra in unison. When they reached the "Western World", he suddenly transformed. The entire assembly heard the sound of celestial music filling the sky, and an auspicious light illuminated the heavens.