三寶感應要略錄 1.67

1.67

溫州司馬。得長病欲衰死。親屬奴婢。來集家室涕泣。既死經一日。親屬知識。至心歸依藥師。請除病應。一日造形像七軀。如法供養。至第二日。悶絕還活云。我出家時。從三人冥官被縛。過幽闇路。無人相從。至一城中。見有高座。玉冠神並坐。前有數千人。皆被枷鎖。問使者誰。答琰魔王也。時可活汝罪。時王召問。汝有作善不。答我未了志早死。王言。汝惡無量。定不可免脫地獄。爾時有異光。照司馬之身。王知而告。汝親屬奴婢。造七佛像。得延壽命。早可還人間。以是因緣。再得醒矣。

The Marshal of Wenzhou fell ill for a long time and was on the verge of fading away in death. Relatives and household servants gathered in the house, weeping. After he had been dead for one day, his relatives and acquaintances took refuge in Bhaiṣajyaguru with a sincere mind, praying for a response to cure the illness. In one day they fashioned seven images and made offerings according to the Dharma. On the second day, having swooned, he revived and said: “When I departed the household, I was bound by three underworld officials and passed along a dark and gloomy road with no one accompanying me. Reaching a walled city, I saw a high seat with a deity wearing a jade crown seated there, before whom were several thousand people, all in cangues and chains. I asked the messengers who it was, and they answered, ‘King Yama; now your crimes can be judged.’ The king summoned me and asked, ‘Have you performed any good deeds?’ I replied, ‘I died young before fulfilling my aspirations.’ The king said, ‘Your evils are limitless; you certainly cannot avoid hell.’ At that time, an extraordinary light illuminated my body. The king recognized it and told me, ‘Your relatives and household servants have fashioned seven Buddha images, and you have gained an extension of your lifespan; you may return to the human world at once.’ Due to these circumstances, I regained consciousness.”