三寶感應要略錄 2.54

2.54

齊朝曇鸞法師。得此土仙經十卷。欲訪陶隱居學仙術。後逢三藏菩提問曰。佛法中有長生不死法。勝得此土仙經否。三藏唾地驚曰。此方何處有長生不死法。縱得延壽。年盡須墮三有。即將無量壽觀經。授與鸞曰。此大仙方。依而行之。長得解脫。永離生死。鸞便須火。遂焚仙經。忽於半夜。感龍樹菩薩說偈。乃知壽終。自執爐面西。念佛即便壽終。聞空中音樂西來。須臾即還矣。

During the Qi dynasty, Dharma Master Tanluan obtained ten scrolls of immortal texts of this land and wished to visit the Hermit Tao to study the arts of the immortals. Later, he met Tripiṭaka [Master] Bodhiruci and asked: "Is there in the Buddha's Dharma a method for longevity and immortality that surpasses the immortal texts of this land?" The Tripiṭaka [Master] spat on the ground and said with astonishment: "Where in this realm could there be a method for longevity and immortality? Even if one attains prolonged life, when one's years are exhausted, one must fall back into the three realms of existence!" He immediately took the Sūtra on the Contemplation of Amitāyus, handed it to Tanluan, and said: "This is the prescription of the Great Immortal; cultivate according to it, and you will forever attain liberation and be parted from birth and death forever." Tanluan thereupon called for fire and subsequently burned the immortal texts. Suddenly, at midnight, he experienced Bodhisattva Nāgārjuna speaking a verse, and thus knew his life was coming to an end. Holding a censer himself, he faced west, was mindful of the Buddha, and thereupon ended his life. Music was heard in the air coming from the west, which returned after a short while.