淨土往生傳 2.22

2.22

Shi Xiongjun, whose secular surname was Zhou, was a man of Chengdu. He possessed boldness and courage but lacked preceptual conduct, yet by nature he was skilled at lecturing. Sometimes he obtained wealth and silk from his lecture halls, but he invariably spent them improperly. The people of Shu despised him, considering him a monk who ruined the Way, carrying out every conceivable evil. He once left the monastic order to join the military ranks, but soon fled danger and re-entered the sangha. Those among the monks who guarded their moral reputation and guarded against future trouble mostly feared and avoided him. Jun heard the scriptures state that a single recitation of the name of Amitābha Buddha extinguishes the sins of birth and death spanning fifty billion kalpas, whereupon he was overjoyed and said, “I can rely on this!” From then on, he engaged in improper and evil deeds while his mouth constantly recited the Buddha’s name; yet his recitation was as if present yet forgotten, seemingly gained yet lost, just like actors making light entertainment. On the fifth day of the second month in the second year of the Dali era of the Tang, he died suddenly and entered the netherworld. In the netherworld, he saw the King, who said, “Summoning you here was an error; however, your accumulated evils are exceptionally great, and it is fitting that you briefly endure suffering in the mud and coals.” He then ordered several ox-headed wardens to drive him into hell. Arriving at the gate of hell, Jun resisted, defended himself, and cried out loudly, “Even a single recitation of Amitābha Buddha extinguishes the heavy sins of birth and death spanning fifty billion kalpas! How much more so since the evils I have committed have not reached the five heinous crimes, nor have they formed the ten unwholesome deeds! Furthermore, when I recited the Buddha’s name, I did not forget it. If the Buddha’s words are trustworthy, how could I properly suffer the mud and coals?” He then cried out again, lunging to the left and dashing to the right. The several wardens looked at each other and did not dare advance upon him for a long time. They then reported his words to the King, who ordered Jun to be summoned. When Jun arrived, the King said, “In your recitation of the Buddha’s name, there was originally no deep faith; yet your body and speech created a cause. You may return to the mortal realm to spur on your initial resolve.” After Jun was able to return, he repeatedly spoke of what he had seen. The wits of the time mocked him, calling him a man who slipped through hell’s net. Jun said, “Do not jest; from now on, I know my own faults.” He then went to the Western Mountains south of the commandery, cleansed his mind, and focused exclusively on practicing buddhānusmṛti. On the seventh day of the third month in the fourth year, seven of Jun’s companions went to the Western Mountains to visit him. Jun said joyfully, “My time has arrived, and you companions have also come; surely it is by affinity that we meet, and I have a matter to entrust to you.” He also said, “When you return, if you see relatives and acquaintances in the city, tell them for me: ‘Jun, through the merit of buddhānusmṛti, has attained rebirth in the Pure Land. In the future, do not consider Jun a person destined for hell!’” Amid talking and laughing, he sat and departed this world.