弘贊法華傳 6.22

6.22

Śramaṇa Bacheng went forth from the household in his youth. His intellect was dull and slow, but he maintained a perpetual fast and ate only vegetarian food. At the age of twenty-five, he received the full precepts, aroused the mind [for bodhi], and began to recite the Lotus Sūtra, aspiring to be reborn in the western direction. Each day he recited one line, or at most half a gāthā, or sometimes could manage none at all. Only when he attained the age of eighty did he finally become fluent and proficient. Later, while resting in sleep, he saw in a dream a man wearing red robes and a martial cap, holding an invitation scroll in his hand, which he opened and presented to Bacheng, saying, 'The heavenly sovereign Śakra has sent me to respectfully invite you.' Cheng replied, 'This poor monk wishes to be reborn in the western direction. Moreover, although the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven is an exceptional place, it does not accord with this poor monk's wish.' The man in red thereupon departed. Awakening from sleep, Bacheng summoned his disciples and related the previous dream. The next day, he dreamt again, of a seven-storied stūpa. Cheng was on the fifth story, looking westward, where he saw a pathway paved with jewelled cords that had no limits. Two vajrapāṇis held pestles and stood on either side. Several youths in dark-blue robes held white fly whisks, sweeping this pathway. He asked the youths, 'What place is this?' They replied, 'This is the pathway of jewelled cords of the western direction, coming to welcome Dharma Master Cheng.' The Dharma Master woke from sleep and related this incident. He said to his disciples, 'You may trade my three robes and six requisites to provide a vegetarian feast.' In accordance with his words, they made the preparations. Before the feast, he asked the assembly, 'Do you see the thousand Buddhas or not?' The assembly replied, 'We do not see them.' He asked again, 'Do you smell an extraordinary fragrance or not?' The assembly replied, 'We all smell it.' When the feast was over, he bathed, shaved his hair, sat upright in correct mindfulness, and thereupon died.