往生集 2.39

2.39

Hu Yin of the Song held the post of Xuanyi (Court Gentleman of Manifesting Righteousness). Throughout his life, though he had faith in the Buddhayāna, he was not familiar with the Pure Land. At the age of eighty-four, his illness grew grave. His son invited Vinaya Master Qingzhao, begging him to deign to offer instruction. Zhao said to Yin: 'Do you, sir, know the place where you can settle your life and destiny?' Yin said: 'When the mind is pure, the Buddha-land is pure.' Zhao said: 'Do you yourself judge whether in ordinary times your mind has had extraneous thoughts and defilements or not?' Yin said: 'Since I dwell in the world, how could there be no extraneous thoughts?' Zhao said: 'If so, how can mind and land be pure?' Yin said: 'How can a single invocation of the Buddha's name eliminate the grave karmic offenses of birth and death spanning eighty kotis of kalpas?' Zhao said: 'Because Amitābha Buddha practiced through dust-mote kalpas with his vast vows, his awesome virtue is immense, and his light and spiritual power are inconceivable. Therefore, a single invocation of his name eliminates measureless offenses, just as the blazing sun melts frost and snow; what doubt could there still be?' Yin thereupon awakened. That very day he invited monks to engage in buddhamanasikāra. The next day, when Zhao arrived again, Yin said: 'Why did you come so late, Master? The two Great Beings have already descended long ago.' Zhao then led the assembly in reciting the Buddha's name in a loud voice, and Yin joined his palms and passed away.