往生集 1.94

1.94

Shaokang of the Tang dynasty was a native of Xiandu in Jinyun. At the age of fifteen, he was thoroughly versed in the Lotus Sūtra and the Śūraṅgama Sūtra. During the Zhenyuan era, when he visited Baima Temple in Luoyang, he saw texts in the hall emitting light. Upon inspecting them, they were Preceptor Shandao’s Text on Transformation and Guidance toward the Western Direction. The Master prayed, saying, “If I have an affinity with the Pure Land, let it emit light once more.” Having spoken, the radiance flashed. The Master said, “A kalpa-stone may be worn away, but my vow shall never change.” He then went to the hall of the portrait of Preceptor Shandao at Guangming Temple in Chang’an. While gazing in veneration, he suddenly saw the preserved portrait rise into the air and say to him, “Rely on my teaching to widely transform sentient beings; when your merit is accomplished in the future, you will certainly be born in Peaceful Nourishment.” He then went to Xinding, where he begged for coins to entice small children into buddhamanasikāra. For every recitation of the Buddha’s name, he gave one coin. After more than a year, regardless of young or old, noble or base, anyone who saw the Master would chant “Amitābha Buddha”; the sound of buddhamanasikāra filled the roads. Furthermore, he established a Pure Land bodhimaṇḍa on Mount Wulong. Every time he ascended the seat and chanted the Buddha’s name in a loud voice, the assembly saw a buddha emerge from his mouth; for ten recitations, there were ten buddhas. The Master said, “You who see the buddhas will certainly attain rebirth.” At that time the assembly numbered several thousand; those who did not see them grieved and reproached themselves, and therefore redoubled their vigorous efforts. Later, on the third day of the tenth month in the twenty-first year, he exhorted the monastics and laity, saying, “You should arouse joyful longing for the Pure Land and arouse a mind of revulsion and detachment toward Jambudvīpa. If you now see my radiance, you are truly my disciples.” Thereupon he emitted several rays of extraordinary light and passed away. His stūpa was erected at Taizi Cliff, and he was known as Dharma Master of Taiyan.