往生集 1.207

1.207

宋宗本。常州無錫人。初參天衣懷禪師。念佛有省。後遷淨慈。奉詔入東京慧林寺。召對延和殿稱旨。平居密修淨業。雷峯才法師。神遊淨土。見一花殊麗。問之曰。待淨慈本禪師耳。又資福曦公。至慧林禮足。施金而去。人詰其故。曰。吾定中見金蓮花。人言以俟本公。又蓮花無數。云以待受度者。或有萎者。云是退墮人也。有問。師傳直指。何得蓮境標名。答曰。雖在宗門。亦以淨土兼修耳。後臨終安坐而逝。諡圓照禪師。

Zongben of the Song was a native of Wuxi in Changzhou. At first, he studied under Chan Master Tianyi Huai and had an awakening through buddhamanasikāra. Later he moved to Jingci. Receiving an imperial decree, he entered Huilin Temple in the Eastern Capital. Summoned for an audience in the Yanhe Hall, he pleased the emperor. In his ordinary life, he secretly cultivated pure karma. Dharma Master Cai of Leifeng spiritually journeyed to the Pure Land and saw a flower of exceptional beauty. He asked about it and was told: "It is only awaiting Chan Master Ben of Jingci." Furthermore, Elder Xi of Zifu went to Huilin to bow at his feet, offered gold, and left. When people questioned his reason, he said: "In meditative absorption, I saw a golden lotus flower, and someone said it awaits Master Ben. There were also countless lotus flowers said to await those who would be delivered; some that were withered were said to belong to people who had regressed." Someone asked: "The Master transmits the direct pointing [of Chan]; how could his name be inscribed in the lotus realm?" He replied: "Although I belong to the Chan gate, I also cultivate the Pure Land concurrently." Later, when facing his end, he sat peacefully and passed away. He was posthumously named Chan Master Yuanzhao.