淨土往生傳 2.10

2.10

Shi Faxiang was a native of Chengcheng in Tongzhou. From his childhood, he upheld his resolve and was self-reliant. In the final years of Emperor Wu of the Zhou, monks were forced to return to lay dress, and among them, those who possessed discernment were selected for official service. Because of his abilities, Xiang attained an official post. When the Sui restored the great teaching, Xiang submitted a memorial requesting to become a monk once again. Soon after, he resided at Daxingguo Monastery in the capital of Yang for thirty years, deeply contemplating esoteric texts and encompassing both the provisional and the real teachings. When he guided the ignorant and instructed the worldly, his every action brought benefit, and he always used the good merit of such benefit to aid his rebirth in Anyang. Even down to laying the foundation of a hall or constructing a room—any work with clay or timber—he unfailingly dedicated it with a vow. In the seventh year of Wude of the Tang, he fell ill. When it worsened, his disciples were at Xiang's side and heard the sound of his invoking the Buddha coming continuously from his mouth. At first they did not understand, thinking he was merely reciting the Buddha's name in illness to manifest his vowed thoughts. Soon they turned to look, and saw light upon the west wall of his room. The light formed a circle, like a treasure mirror, in which other lands were completely visible. Within the light, there were also kalaviṅka birds flapping their wings and approaching from all directions. Xiang pointed to what he saw and said to his disciples, "Do you disciples see the kalaviṅka birds? If you see them, then in the future you will certainly see me in the Pure Land." Shortly afterward, the light vanished, and Xiang passed away. Thereupon, according to the cremation (jhāpita) method of the Western Regions, they collected his relics and entombed them.