往生集 2.146

2.146

Layman Hua of the Great Ming was a native of Jianggan. Pure, simple, and without artifice, he did not mingle intimately with others. In his middle years, he entrusted his livelihood to his sons and lived alone in a single room, taking no part in worldly affairs. Morning and evening he was merely diligent in practicing buddhamanasikāra. Later, when he was about to die, knowing in advance that his time had arrived, he changed clothes, lay in the main hall, adjusted his cap with his hands, sat upright, bid farewell to the assembly, and passed away. His sons had already prepared a coffin beforehand; thereupon they changed it to a funerary shrine in accordance with the precedent for śramaṇas. On the day the shrine was carried, the onlookers were like a wall, and those far and near looked up to him in admiration.