淨土往生傳 3.16

3.16

Shi Zhitong, secular surname Zhang, was a native of Fufeng. In the latter period of the Later Tang, warfare broke out constantly. Because he had no fixed dwelling, Tong felt deep sorrow and lamentation. He later traveled to Luoyang, where he met the Tripiṭaka master Vajra practicing the Yoga teachings. Tong then said, "This is the secret treasury of the Tathāgata. If I do not receive its transmission, that would be my failing." He then shaved his head, served him as his teacher, and received what was called the secret treasury. He served him for ten years without any slackness in intention. Soon, wishing to ascend Mount Tiantai and wander Mount Luofu, he took leave of the Tripiṭaka master. The Tripiṭaka master said, "The warfare has not yet ceased. You propose to journey south; why do you still face hardship and obstruction with no fear?" Tong said, "Floating across the natural moat, what obstruction could there be?" The Tripiṭaka master said, "If you go to Wu and Kuaiji, I can transmit Sanskrit texts to you. If perchance you are able to translate and propagate them, that too would be my undertaking." He then conferred the Sanskrit texts upon him. In the fourth year of the Tianfu reign era of the Later Jin, he reached Qiantang. Because King Wenmu revered the court, he prepared ceremonial regalia and an orchestra to welcome him at Zhengshen Ta Monastery. Soon after, Tong requested to visit Tiantai. Thereupon he climbed Chicheng and mounted Huading. When he saw Zhiyi's Pure Land rituals, he was exceedingly joyful; he would not spit toward the west, nor would he sit with his back to the west. Mount Tiantai has Beckoning Rock, which is towering and steep, looking down a thousand fathoms. Tong ascended its top, looked out, and said, "Standing upon this place, if I do not abandon my retribution-body at this time to see the Buddha, how will I ever reach it on another day?" Thereupon, closing his eyes and facing west, he stated his great vow and contemplated the practice and vows made by Amitābha on the causal ground. When the vow was finished, he cast his body down. When he reached halfway down the cliff, it seemed as if a spirit held him up in a tree, leaving his limbs unharmed. Tong said, "Why do I still have life?" He then settled his mind and straightened his thoughts again, climbed back up the cliff, and said, "I am already weary of this remaining life, and my great vow has been made. I pray only that the ocean-like assembly will together welcome me, and not let this body still have life!" Thereupon he cast himself down a second time, landing upon thick grass beneath the cliff. Only after a long while did he revive. The monastery monks suspected that Tong had gone elsewhere or been harmed by wolves, and they tracked and searched for him, whereupon they saw that he had abandoned his body. The assembly then carried him back to his original bodhimanda and treated him with medicine. In the sixth year, he requested to travel to Mount Fahua in Yuezhou. In the seventh year, about to return to quiescence, Tong saw white cranes and peacocks descending from the west in ranks, and also saw the radiant image of a lotus opening and closing before him. Tong said, "White cranes and peacocks are the realm of the Pure Land. The radiant image of the lotus is the place where one entrusts one's birth. Is the Pure Land about to welcome me?" He then arose, bowed to the Buddha, and passed away facing the Buddha. When the time came for his cremation (jhāpita), there were again five-colored clouds of smoke encircling and covering his fire. The monks of Mount Fahua all witnessed it together.