往生西方淨土瑞應傳 1.35

1.35

Dharma Master Gan lived at Qianfu Monastery in Chang'an. He was broadly versed in the scriptures, but did not believe in buddhamanasikāra. He asked the preceptor Shandao, “What kind of gate is this matter of buddhamanasikāra?” Shandao answered, “If you can exclusively practice buddhamanasikāra, you will naturally attain your own realization.” He asked again, “Can one actually see the Buddha?” The master said, “How could the Buddha’s words be doubted?” Thereupon he entered the bodhimanda for three seven-day periods without any response. Resenting that his sins were profound, he ceased eating to end his life. The master stopped him and did not permit it. For three years he was single-minded in purpose, and finally attained the sight of the Buddha's golden color and jade ūrṇā, realizing samādhi. Thereupon he composed the seven-fascicle Rebirth Treatise Resolving Doubts. At the end of his life, the Buddha welcomed him; joining his palms, he [saw the Buddha] come from the west, or he passed away facing west.