三寶感應要略錄 2.148

2.148

In Yangzhou, there was a lay devotee who did not believe in the principle of the eternal and abiding Buddha-nature in the Mahāparinirvāṇa[-sūtra]. Further hearing that through the two characters 'eternal and abiding' one would not fall into evil destinies, he gave rise to disbelief, saying: 'Hearing an entire scripture cannot even prevent one from falling into evil destinies, so how much less two characters?' Later, the lay devotee died of a slight illness. There was a little warmth at his chest, so he was not yet buried. After seven days, he awoke and said: 'I reached the city of King Yama. The King scolded me, saying: "You slandered the profound sūtra; your retribution is in Avīci." At that time, I remembered and upheld cause and effect, and said to the King: "Even if by slandering I am to fall into evil destinies, because I heard the two characters 'eternal and abiding', the gates to evil destinies should also be closed." At that time, a light suddenly appeared in the empty sky, and within the light, a verse was spoken, saying: