淨土往生傳 2.9

2.9

Shi Shanzhou had the secular surname Huai and was a native of Boye in Yingzhou. In his youth, he mastered doctrinal studies, rising far above his peers. He once traveled to Wuzhong, where he met Dharma Master Huijing lecturing on the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra, with a thousand monastics and laypeople listening intently. From among those thousand people, Zhou debated with him, repeatedly challenging and cross-examining him, and gained a decisive victory. From this, his renown spread across several commanderies. In the third year of the Renshou era of the Sui, Emperor Wen issued an edict selecting fifty-three eminent monks to distribute relics among fifty-three commanderies. By virtue of his outstanding virtues, Zhou was chosen among them, and in this selection, Zhou was especially renowned. Yet Zhou had little regard for worldly affairs and was detached toward relatives and old acquaintances; he devoted all his efforts exclusively to the Pure Land. In the hall where he resided, there were images of Amitābha and the two bodhisattvas, which repeatedly emitted light inside and out; all who saw it marveled in praise, but Zhou never said a word about it. In the second year of Daye, he fell ill in bed; only in the third year of Wude of the Tang did his illness abate. Zhou said, "My illness has abated, but my life is about to end." Shortly thereafter, he suddenly became critically ill. He said again, "Toward the Buddha’s teachings, I have never been careless; I have no anxiety about not being reborn in the Pure Land." He then had the monks sweep clean his room and wait solemnly for the moment to arrive. That evening, while the monks were still at his side, Zhou suddenly rose, pressed his palms together, and prayed, "The Buddha uses the forty-eight vows to gather me in. Sentient beings must hope that at this moment it will be according to the Buddha's original vows." After a moment, he said again, "Sentient beings, through many kalpas, fail to encounter the Buddha or hear the Dharma. Now the Buddha's radiance has fortunately shone upon me, Zhou; what I previously vowed has not gone astray." Having spoken these words, he passed away.