法華傳記 6.46

6.46

相州北道有二人僧。失其名。朋友之道。其利斷金竝室而住。一人誦十地論。一人誦法華經。靜夜止誦相告曰。吾等二人。若死者。當來報因果之有無也。數歲之後。誦十地僧先病卒。良久無報。朋友僧晝夜悲泣。恨遲來報。夢來報曰。吾以貢高勝負心。誦十地論。不思後生苦樂。以心麁故。炎魔法王。配我置收闇室。若任其罪。滅貢高勝他罪。方生淨土。公追憶我誦經。大光明照闇室身凉苦息。不久離苦。朋友之道。遠霑後世。我慶幸公善知識。公何恨我哉。公三年後。當生淨土。願為我諷誦一百部。速生淨土。來迎公神。夢覺澡浴塵穢。著新淨衣。更誦一百部。又夢來報曰。依公恩澤往淨土。經三年來迎。莫廢誦業。寤向同行僧說之。

On the Northern Circuit of Xiangzhou there were two monks whose names have been lost. In their bond of friendship, their sharp unity could cut metal, and they lived in adjoining rooms. One recited the Daśabhūmika-śāstra, and one recited the Lotus Sūtra. In the quiet of night, pausing their recitations, they told each other, “Between the two of us, whichever dies first shall return to report whether cause and effect exist or not.” Several years later, the monk who recited the Daśabhūmika fell ill and died first. For a long time there was no report. His friend the monk wept in sorrow day and night, regretting the delay in his coming to report. [The deceased] came to report in a dream, saying, “Because of my arrogance and competitive mind, I recited the Daśabhūmika-śāstra without contemplating the suffering and joy of future rebirths. Because my mind was coarse, King Yama, the Dharma King, relegated and confined me to a dark chamber. If left to my sins, only after exhausting the sins of arrogance and vying with others could I be born in the Pure Land. Because you remembered me and recited the sūtra, a great bright light illuminated the dark chamber, my body cooled, and my suffering ceased; before long, I will leave suffering. The way of friendship extends far into future lives. I rejoice that you are a good friend in the Dharma; why should you hold a grudge against me? Three years from now, you will be born in the Pure Land. Please chant and recite one hundred complete texts for me, so that I may be born in the Pure Land quickly and come to welcome your spirit.” Waking from the dream, he washed away his dust and impurities, put on new clean robes, and recited another one hundred complete texts. [The friend] again came to report in a dream, saying, “Relying on your grace, I have gone to the Pure Land. In three years I will come to welcome you. Do not abandon your recitation practice.” Waking, he recounted this to his fellow practitioners.