往生集 1.85

1.85

Shandao of the Tang dynasty, during the Zhenguan era, saw the nine-grades bodhimaṇḍa of Chan Master Daochuo of Xihe, and rejoiced, saying, “This is truly the essential crossing for entering Buddhahood. Cultivating other practices is circuitous, deviated, and difficult to accomplish; only this Dharma gate allows one to swiftly transcend saṃsāra.” Thereupon, with diligent devotion and arduous asceticism, he paid homage and recited day and night, inspiring the fourfold assembly. Whenever he entered his chamber, he would kneel on both knees and practice buddhamanasikāra, never resting until his strength was exhausted; when he went out, he expounded the Pure Land for others. For more than thirty years he never slept even for a moment. He sent fine food to the kitchen and provided only coarse and poor food for himself. Whenever he received donations, he used them to copy one hundred thousand scrolls of the Amitābha Sūtra, paint three hundred wall murals of the Pure Land transformation tableau, repair what was dilapidated, and light lamps to keep the brightness burning continuously. He did not permit anyone to carry his three robes, water bottle, or alms-bowl. When walking, he did not accompany the multitude, fearing they would converse about worldly affairs. Those who followed his transformation were extremely numerous: there were those who recited the Amitābha Sūtra from one hundred thousand to five hundred thousand times; there were those whose daily quota of buddhamanasikāra was ten thousand to one hundred thousand recitations; and those who attained the buddhānusmṛti-samādhi and achieved rebirth in the Pure Land could not be recorded in full. Someone once asked, “Does practicing buddhamanasikāra indeed bring rebirth in the Pure Land?” The Master said, “As you practice mindfulness, so will your wish be fulfilled.” He then recited once himself, and a ray of light emerged from his mouth; when he recited ten to a hundred times, the lights were also like this. His verse admonishing the world says: “Gradually comes chicken-skin and crane-white hair; / Behold how one’s gait becomes tottering and frail. / Even if gold and jade fill the hall, / How can one escape decline, decrepitude, and the pain of sickness? / Let yourself have a thousand kinds of pleasure, / Impermanence will arrive in the end. / There is only the direct path of cultivation: / Merely be mindful of Amitābha Buddha.” Suddenly he said to people, “This body is loathsome; I am going to return to the West.” He then climbed a willow tree, faced the west, and prayed, saying, “May the Buddha receive me and the bodhisattvas assist me, so that I do not lose right mindfulness and obtain rebirth in the Pure Land.” Having spoken, he cast himself down and passed away. When Emperor Gaozong learned of this affair, he bestowed upon the temple the plaque inscribed “Guangming” (Radiance).