三寶感應要略錄 3.31

3.31

Dharma Master Shi Quanming vowed to make a three-inch carved sandalwood image of Maitreya Bodhisattva, praying and vowing to be born in the Tuṣita Heaven. He wrote an Excerpt on the Sūtra of Rebirth Above in four fascicles to illuminate its esoteric profundity. He dreamed that the image gradually grew larger, with a golden light shining brightly, and facing Ming, it smiled slightly. Ming addressed the image, saying, 'I and others vow to seek rebirth in the Tuṣita Heaven; shall we be able to be born there?' The image said, 'Having received the crucial and mighty entrustment from Great Master Śākyamuni, even those who do not think [of me] are not abandoned, how much less those who have mindful vows!' Having spoken these words, it returned to being the original image. Ming kept it secret and did not tell others. After his death, it was seen in his testamentary letter, and its sympathetic response was known. At the approach of death, people beside him dreamed that hundreds of thousands of blue-clad people came to welcome him; Ming pointed to the sky and departed.