淨土往生傳 2.16

2.16

Shi Shensu, styled Shaoze, had the secular surname Wang. His ancestors were originally from Taiyuan, and later resided in the wilderness of Mingtiao in An'yi. Su became a monk when young, forming a friendship with Dharma Master Daojie to inquire into the Way; his comprehension of words and doctrines had few equals. The discerning masters of that era mostly held him in deep esteem. During the Daye era of the Sui, he lectured on the Abhidharma treatises over forty times, and on the Tattvasiddhi and other treatises another twenty times; as for other minor texts, not a single day went without study. He once said, 'If through my lectures I have somewhat dispelled ignorance, may I upon my death swiftly ascend to Anyang.' Su was warm, courteous, and modest, never boasting of himself; when he heard of another's virtue, he rejoiced as if he possessed it himself; when he heard of another's fault, he felt as if it were his own. On the thirteenth day of the second month in the seventeenth year of Tang Zhenguan, he contracted a slight illness and told his disciples, 'I have engraved it upon my bones and carved it upon my flesh to plant causes for Anyang. Now in my illness, fortunately there is no suffering; how will you disciples assist me?' He then ordered his disciples to recite the Contemplation Sūtra in a clear voice. Su listened quietly, and after listening, he himself recited Amitābha Buddha, the two bodhisattvas Avalokiteśvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta, and all the bodhisattvas of the ocean-like assembly, chanting like this back and forth several times. He then had one monk lead the chant while the assembly of monks joined in harmony. When midnight came, he sat upright and peacefully, departing from the world.