神僧傳 5.56

5.56

善道法師。臨淄人。入大藏信手探卷得觀無量壽佛經。乃專心念佛以修十六妙觀。及住廬山觀遠公遺躅。豁然增思。後遁跡終南修般舟三昧數載。睹寶閣瑤池宛然在目。復往晉陽從綽禪師授無量壽經。入定七日。綽請觀所生處。道報曰。師當懺悔三罪方可往生。師甞安佛像在簷牖下。自處深房此一罪也。當於佛前懺。又常役使出家人此二罪也。當於四方僧前懺。又因造屋多損蟲命此三罪也。當於一切眾生前懺。綽靜思往咎洗心悔謝。久之道因定出謂綽曰。師罪滅矣。後有白光來照之時。是往生相也。道行化京師歸者如市。忽微疾即掩室怡然念佛而逝。異香天樂向西而隱。

Dharma Master Shandao was a man of Linzi. Entering the great canon, he reached out his hand at random to draw a scroll, and obtained the Sūtra on the Contemplation of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life. Thereupon, he single-mindedly practiced the recollection of the Buddha to cultivate the sixteen wonderful contemplations. When he stayed at Mount Lu and viewed the remaining traces of Master Yuan, his thoughts were suddenly deepened. Later, he lived in seclusion on Mount Zhongnan and cultivated the pratyutpanna-samādhi for several years. He beheld jeweled pavilions and jade ponds as if vividly before his eyes. He went again to Jinyang to receive the Sūtra of Immeasurable Life from Chan Master Daochuo. He entered samādhi for seven days. Daochuo asked him to observe the place of his future rebirth. Shandao reported: 'Master, you must repent of three transgressions before you can attain rebirth. You once placed a Buddha image under the eaves and window while you yourself dwelt in an inner room; this is the first transgression, which should be repented before the Buddha. Moreover, you constantly employed renouncers of household life; this is the second transgression, which should be repented before the Saṅgha of the four directions. Furthermore, due to building houses, you harmed the lives of many insects; this is the third transgression, which should be repented before all sentient beings.' Daochuo quietly contemplated his past faults and purified his mind in repentance. After a long while, Shandao emerged from samādhi and said to Daochuo: 'The Master's transgressions are eradicated. In the future, when a white light comes to shine upon you, that will be the sign of rebirth.' Shandao taught and transformed the capital; those who took refuge in him were as numerous as a marketplace. Suddenly falling mildly ill, he closed his room and, joyfully recollecting the Buddha, passed away. An extraordinary fragrance and heavenly music vanished toward the west.