往生集 1.141

1.141

Yanshou of the Qian family's Wuyue kingdom was a native of Yuhang in Hangzhou. He went forth into the religious life under Chan Master Cuiyan of Siming. He studied with National Preceptor Shao of Tiantai, illuminating the essentials of the mind. He once performed the Lotus Repentance; in the middle of the night, he saw Samantabhadra, and a lotus flower suddenly appeared in his hand. Consequently, reflecting that his past vows remained unsettled, he ascended Master Zhiyi's cliff and made two lots: one read 'Single-minded dhyāna-concentration,' and the other read 'Cultivating the Pure Land through myriad practices.' Quieting his mind and praying sincerely, he drew lots seven times, and every time he obtained the Pure Land. Thereupon, he devoted his mind exclusively to this practice. Later, he resided at Yongming, undertaking one hundred and eight daily tasks. At night, he went to another peak to practice the path and engage in buddhamanasikāra. Bystanders frequently heard the sounds of conch shells and celestial music. King Zhongyi sighed in admiration: 'Since ancient times, among those seeking the Western Direction, there has never been one so dedicated and earnest!' He then erected the Hall of Western Incense and Adornment to fulfill his aspiration. During his fifteen years at Yongming, he had one thousand seven hundred disciples. He constantly conferred the bodhisattva precepts upon the assembly, distributed food to ghosts and spirits, and released various living creatures, dedicating all the merit to adorning the Pure Land. At that time, he was called an earthly descent of Maitreya. On the twenty-sixth day of the second month of the eighth year of the Kaibao era, he rose at dawn, burned incense, addressed the assembly, and passed away seated cross-legged. Later, a monk came from Linchuan and circumambulated his stupa for an entire year. When people asked the reason, he replied: 'When I was ill, I entered the underworld and saw the portrait of a monk enshrined to the left of the palace hall. The King [of the Underworld] diligently paid reverence to it. When I discreetly asked who he was, they said: "This is Chan Master Yanshou of Yongming in Hangzhou. All who die must pass through the underworld courts, but this master has already been reborn directly into the highest grade of the highest level of the Western Direction. The King esteems his virtue, and therefore pays him homage."'