三寶感應要略錄 3.61

3.61

Xuqu of Liangzhou was of the Yao family. He lost his parents when young and was unaware of the debt of gratitude due to them. When he grew up, hearing of the conditions for repaying kindness, tears flowed from both eyes. He therefore painted images of the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokiteśvara and the Six Avalokiteśvaras, and made offerings to them in his old residence. A year and a half passed without the slightest response. On the night of the fourteenth day of the seventh month of the following year, a call came to Xuqu from mid-air. Not knowing where it came from, he asked, “Who is it?” They replied: “We are your two parents. Having freely committed evil karma, we fell into hell and were swallowing hot iron pellets. On the eighteenth day of the second month of last year, six śramaṇas of blazing awesome light entered the city of hell. When the hell wardens saw them, they gave rise to a mind of reverence and did not dare obstruct them. Having entered hell, they drew in their light and preached the Dharma for us. At first we had no awareness, but gradually they taught and guided us, and hundreds of thousands of people who passed away were reborn in heaven. We were reborn in the second heaven and only then came to know your kindness. However, the pleasure experienced in heaven is uninterrupted, and other matters are easily forgotten; therefore we have come late.” Xuqu said, “By what evidence may I know that you are my parents?” They replied: “If you do not believe our words, go look at the yellow box in the treasury; we stored one hundred round gold coins for you.” Having spoken, there was no more sound. The next morning he looked at the box in the treasury, and it was truly just as they had said. Joy upon joy mingled together. When he checked the date the image was painted, it tallied exactly with what had been said.