三寶感應要略錄 1.39

1.39

釋道如是并州晉陽人也。乃是道綽禪師懸孫弟子。心含慈仁。悲四生苦。雖修淨業。先欲度他。發願為救三途眾生受苦。造阿彌陀丈六金像。貧道之力三年方成。精勤供養。在於像前夢。一人冥官。將金紙牒書曰。此是閻魔法王。隨喜師願牒書也。如即開見云。阿師為救三途受苦眾生。造阿彌陀像。入地獄教化眾生。宛如生佛。放光說法。利益不思議。地獄眾生業微輕者。皆離苦得樂。夢覺彌專其志。齋日像胸放光。但十人五六得見。或人夢。道如現金色身。入地獄中說法。或為餓鬼說法。以如此感應蓋多。定知所願不虛矣。

Shi Daoru was a native of Jinyang in Bingzhou. He was a remote-lineage disciple of Chan Master Daochuo. His mind embraced kindness and benevolence, feeling compassion for the sufferings of the four kinds of birth. Although he cultivated pure karma, he first wished to deliver others. Making a vow to rescue the suffering sentient beings of the three wretched realms, he made a sixteen-foot golden image of Amitābha. Through the strength of this poor monk, it took three years to complete. He made offerings with diligence. Before the image he dreamed that an official of the underworld held an official document written on gold paper and said: 'This is an official document from the Dharma King Yama rejoicing in your vow, Master.' Daoru then opened and looked at it, which read: 'The Venerable Master, in order to save the suffering sentient beings of the three wretched realms, made an image of Amitābha, which entered the hells to teach and transform sentient beings just like a living Buddha, emitting light and preaching the Dharma, with inconceivable benefit. Those sentient beings in hell whose karma is slight and light have all left suffering and attained bliss.' Awakening from the dream, he became even more single-minded in his resolve. On vegetarian fast days, the breast of the image emitted light, but only five or six people out of ten were able to see it. Some people dreamed that Daoru manifested a golden body, entered into the hells to preach the Dharma, or preached the Dharma for hungry ghosts. Since such sympathetic responses were so numerous, one could certainly know that his vow was not in vain.