傳法正宗記 5.39

5.39

The king awakened to his words and immediately repented and apologized for his past wrongs. He thereupon radically changed his resolve and sought to hear the essentials of the Dharma from Prajñātāra, serving him in discussion for a total of three months. Meanwhile, Zongsheng, having been exiled to the mountains, was moved to reflect: "Only at eighty did I attain right view. In my practice over these past twenty years, when confronted with hardship I was still unable to protect the Dharma. Though I have now reached a hundred years of age, why would it not be better to die?" He then cast himself down from a high cliff. Suddenly a divine being raised a long hand, caught him, and placed him upon a rock, his body completely unharmed. Zongsheng said: "Unworthy to have left home, I was unable to curb the king's wrong intentions and uphold the great Dharma. Death was indeed what I deserved. What divine grace has brought about this rescue? I beg for a word to reveal the karmic reason." The divine being then spoke a verse: