往生集 2.270

2.270

潭州人。有養鴝鵒者。常念佛既斃。以棺葬之。忽生蓮花一朵。自其口出有頌之者。云有一靈禽。號八哥。解隨僧口念彌陀。死埋平地蓮花發。人不回心爭奈何。

There was a native of Tanzhou who kept a myna that constantly practiced buddhamanasikāra. After it died, they buried it with a coffin. Suddenly, a lotus blossom grew and emerged from its mouth. Someone composed a eulogy for it: 'There is a clever bird, called the myna; / It can follow the monk's mouth in chanting Amitābha. / Buried in the flat earth, a lotus blossom blooms; / If humans do not turn their minds, what can be done?'