三寶感應要略錄 1.89

1.89

Tang Ade died, and after three days he revived and related his experience. When he first died, two men took him under the arms, and an official on a white horse drove him along, not knowing how many li they traveled. He saw a north-facing black gate and entered; he saw an east-facing black gate and entered; he saw a south-facing black gate. Entering northward, he saw a common hall with more than seventy bays, where there was a person in black garments and a dragon crown. Beside him were more than twenty officials, all addressing him as the Prefect. To the southwest there were another forty or fifty officials. Ade then stepped forward to take leave of the Prefect. The Prefect asked what he had revered and served. Ade said: "My family erected a stupa and monastery pagoda, and made offerings to religious practitioners." The Prefect said: "You have great blessed virtue." He asked the Recording Envoy: "Has this man's life come to an end?" He saw him holding a scroll of writing and leaning over the desk; the characters were extremely fine. He said: "His remaining lifespan is thirty-five years." The Prefect was furious and said: "How dare petty officials abruptly take a man's life!" He then had the white-horse official bound to a post and punished with one hundred lashes, until blood flowed profusely. He asked Ade: "Do you wish to return or not?" Ade said: "Yes." The Prefect said: "I shall now send you back. I wish first to dispatch you to inspect the hells." Thereupon he gave him a horse and a companion. Exiting from the northeast, after traveling an unknown number of li, he saw a city several tens of li square, with houses filling the city. There he saw his deceased elder uncle and aunt, and his younger uncle and aunt, from before he had served the Buddha; all were wearing the garments of the spirit realm, their bodies mutilated and bleeding. Moving forward, he saw another city, inside which were those placed upon iron beds, the burning beds glowing bright red. Altogether he saw ten hells, each with its tortures. The names of the hells were Red Sand, Yellow Sand, and White Sand—seven sands such as these—and there were trees of knives and swords, and people embracing red-copper pillars. Thereupon he moved quickly, and again saw common rooms of seventy bays, with locust trees planted along both sides of the road, called Houses of Blessing. Disciples of the Buddha dwelt within them; those with much merit were born into the heavens above, while those with little merit dwelt in these houses. From afar he saw a great hall of more than twenty bays, and a man and two women came down from the hall; these were his own aunt and uncles from after Ade had served the Buddha. After a moment, a person came and asked Ade: "A city several tens of li square is full; do you recognize me or not?" Ade said: "I do not." He said: "Why do you not recognize me? I was the monastery patron who built the Buddha gate with you!" Thereupon he smiled and remembered him. Returning to the Prefect's place, the Prefect immediately dispatched the previous two men to escort him back, and he quickly revived.