往生集 2.314

2.314

In the Great Ming, Layman Du was a native of Wanping County in Shuntian Prefecture. He lived in seclusion in an old vegetarian retreat hall beside Ruiguang Temple in the Western Hills, paying no attention to family affairs, exclusively devoting himself to buddhamanasikāra for thirty years. My fellow townsman Tong Guangce visited him. The layman asked where he came from, and he answered: 'Hangzhou.' He said: 'You are from Hangzhou; do you know Master Hong of Yunqi?' Ce answered: 'He is my master.' The layman joined his palms and chanted the Buddha's name, speaking no further words. Nearing his end, he performed repentance rituals for nine days; whenever he came to an earnest passage in the repentance text, he wept and choked with tears. He then ceased eating, drinking only a little water. When the repentance was complete, he sat and passed away. For a full ten days his countenance appeared as if alive. People looked and saw five-colored auspicious clouds hovering above the roof.