三寶感應要略錄 1.39

1.39

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.