淨土往生傳 2.14

2.14

Shi Dao'ang was a native of Hucheng in Wei. When he was first conceived in the womb, his mother could not consume meat or blood; if anyone arrived having eaten meat or blood, his mother would also loathe it. At the age of nine, he went to Dharma Master Lingyu to become his disciple. His wisdom and understanding were naturally endowed, scarcely needing instruction from a master. Once, at Hanlingshan Monastery, he deeply researched the meaning of the sūtras, persisting for twenty years. Whenever monastics and scholars of the Wei had points of doctrinal study they could not comprehend, they mostly went to him for resolution; he responded to every inquiry, never leaving anything unanswered. Whenever he lectured on the Avataṃsaka Sūtra and Daśabhūmivyākhyāna and was about to conclude the text, he would state his own vow: 'I vow to be reborn in the Pure Land, beginning from this day.' Even in casual speech and discussions, this vow was always present. In the spring of the seventh year of Tang Zhenguan, Ang met with relatives and acquaintances near and far and told them: 'My living was like coming; my dying is like returning. In the eighth month, I shall return!' When the time came, people all came to visit him; seeing that he was not ill, the assembly was doubtful. Ang said, 'My time has arrived; do not doubt.' He then ascended the high seat and offered earnest exhortations; those who heard him were awestruck. While Ang was giving his exhortations from the seat, he suddenly bowed with joined hands and said, 'What celestial multitude is that, arriving in crowds?' He also said, 'Being born into the heavenly realm has never been my vow; my vow is to be welcomed into the Pure Land, and now I have received the command!' Thereupon he closed his eyes, and after a long while said again, 'The light of Amitābha Buddha has already illuminated me, and various transformation bodhisattvas have also come to meet.' He then held up an incense burner, bowed his head, and expressed his joyful encounter. Soon the incense burner fell, and Ang passed away.