往生集 2.83

2.83

I have heard ancient masters of virtue say that those scholar-officials whose brilliance surpasses others mostly come from among the monks. Yet I have often wondered why nine out of ten become confused and do not return, while only one in ten does not fail their past causes. Why is this? In the evil world of the five turbidities, there are many conditions for retrogression, which even the worthy can hardly avoid. Thus Chan Master Jie's later rebirth was Dongpo; Chan Master Qing's later rebirth was Zeng Lugong; Chan Master Zhe's later rebirth indulged in wealth and nobility, suffering much distress. Now Dongpo was the closest to the Dharma gate, yet Lord Zeng did not equal him; as for Elder Zhe's later rebirth, his delusion was all the greater! This is why spiritual friends of past and present urge people to abandon the five turbidities and seek the Pure Land. If so, then is what Liu Yimin and the other gentlemen obtained not vast indeed?