往生集 1.82

1.82

Fazhi of the Sui dynasty undertook pravrajyā in his childhood. In his later years, he heard that among the direct gates, none surpasses buddhamanasikāra. He then said to others, “I have heard that the sūtras say committing a single duṣkṛta causes one to pass through an intermediate kalpa and enter hell, which is believable; but when they also say that chanting the name of Amitābha Buddha once eradicates the grave offenses of saṃsāra of eighty koṭis of kalpas, this I cannot believe.” A person of understanding instructed him, saying, “You have a great wrong view! Both are the words of the Buddha; how can you not believe them?” He thereupon practiced buddhamanasikāra day and night with diligence at the Tuṣita Terrace of Guoqing Temple. Suddenly, he took leave of monastics and laity, saying, “I am departing for rebirth in the Western Direction.” In the middle of the night, without illness, he was transformed. At that time, a golden radiance illuminated several hundred li. The fishermen on the river thought dawn had broken, but only after a long delay did it truly brighten; only then did they learn of Fazhi’s rebirth.