三寶感應要略錄 3.63

3.63

趙文侍者荊州人也。其父母邪見。不信三寶。文侍事觀世音。父母亡後。作是念言。吾双親邪見不信。不知何處。須圖六觀世音像。將救六道。父母豈不入其數。雇巧手圖六觀音像。未加綵畫。夜夢見六觀音。文侍合掌。白六觀世音言。願慈悲者。將知父母生處。爾時大悲觀世音。告文侍曰。汝父在大焦熱地獄。受燒煮苦。汝圖我像。我往彼地獄。放光說法。救地獄苦。大慈觀音言。若移餓鬼。我當救濟。但母正在餓鬼。我往彼處。手雨甘露。令得飽滿。而為說法。師子無畏觀音言。若移畜生中。我當濟救之。大光明普照觀音言。若移阿修羅中。我能救之。天人丈夫觀音言。若移人道。我示淨土道路。大梵深遠觀音言。若生天上。我能救退沒苦。出三有界。六觀音說如是語已。忽然覺悟。更圖綵方成放光。遠見即如有燈光。近見即滅。父感夢之二人丈夫。乘紫雲來下。告文侍言。我等蒙觀音救濟。往生淨土云。聞者皆謂文侍父母來告云云。

Zhao Wenshi was a native of Jingzhou. His parents held wrong views and did not believe in the Three Jewels. Wenshi served Avalokiteśvara. After his parents died, he thought: “My two parents held wrong views and lacked faith; I do not know where they are. I must depict images of the Six Avalokiteśvaras to rescue the six destinies. Would not my parents be among them?” He hired a skilled artisan to depict images of the Six Avalokiteśvaras, but before the colors were applied, he saw the Six Avalokiteśvaras in a dream at night. Wenshi joined his palms and addressed the Six Avalokiteśvaras, saying: “May the compassionate ones let me know where my parents have been born.” At that time, Avalokiteśvara of Great Compassion told Wenshi: “Your father is in the Great Scorching Heat Hell, suffering the agony of boiling and burning. Because you depict my image, I will go to that hell, emit light, preach the Dharma, and relieve the suffering of hell.” Avalokiteśvara of Great Kindness said: “If he shifts to the hungry ghosts, I shall save him. But your mother is currently among the hungry ghosts; I will go to that place, rain down nectar from my hand, make her fully sated, and preach the Dharma for her.” Fearless Lion Avalokiteśvara said: “If they shift into the animals, I shall deliver them.” Avalokiteśvara of Vastly Illuminating Great Light said: “If they shift among the asuras, I can save them.” Heroic Hero of Gods and Humans Avalokiteśvara said: “If they shift into the human path, I will show them the road to the Pure Land.” Avalokiteśvara of Profound and Far-Reaching Great Brahmā said: “If they are born in heaven, I can save them from the suffering of falling away and cause them to transcend the realm of the three existences.” When the Six Avalokiteśvaras finished speaking these words, he suddenly awoke. He then applied the colors, and as soon as it was completed it emitted light; seen from afar it was like the light of a lamp, but when approached it went out. Two men resembling the father of the dream came down riding purple clouds and told Wenshi: “Receiving the salvation of Avalokiteśvara, we have been reborn in the Pure Land.” Those who heard of it all said that Wenshi's parents had come to inform him.