集神州三寶感通錄 3.38

3.38

隋開皇初。有揚州僧忘其名。誦通涅槃自矜為業。岐州東山下村中沙彌誦觀音經。二俱暴死。心下俱暖。同至閻王所。乃處沙彌金高座。甚恭敬之。處涅槃僧銀高座。敬心不重。事訖勘問。二僧餘壽皆放還。彼涅槃僧情大悢悢恃所誦多。問沙彌住處。於是兩辭各蘇所在。彼從南來至岐州訪得具問所由。沙彌言。初誦觀音。別衣別所燒香呪願。然後乃誦。斯法不怠更無他術。彼謝曰。吾罪深矣。所誦涅槃威儀不整。身口不淨救忘而已。古人遺言。多惡不如少善。於今取驗。悔往而返。

In the early Kaihuang reign era of the Sui dynasty, there was a monk of Yangzhou whose name has been lost, who was fluent in reciting the Nirvāṇa Sūtra and took pride in this as his practice. In a village below the eastern mountain of Qizhou, there was a novice who recited the Avalokiteśvara Sūtra. Both died suddenly at the same time, yet below their hearts remained warm. They arrived together at King Yama's place. Yama seated the novice on a high golden seat and treated him with great reverence; he seated the Nirvāṇa monk on a high silver seat and did not show him great respect. When the proceedings concluded and their records were examined, both monks had remaining lifespan, and both were released to return. That Nirvāṇa monk felt deep resentment, relying on the fact that he had recited so much, and asked the novice where he lived. Thereupon both took their leave and each revived in his own locality. That [monk] came from the south to Qizhou, located the novice, and thoroughly questioned him about the reason. The novice said: 'Whenever I recite Avalokiteśvara, I put on distinct robes, stay in a distinct place, burn incense, and make vows; only then do I recite. I never slacken in this practice, and have no other art.' That monk apologized, saying: 'My sin is deep indeed! When I recited the Nirvāṇa Sūtra, my deportment was disorderly, and my body and mouth were impure; I only recited to prevent forgetting. As the ancients' bequeathed saying goes: "Much evil is not as good as a little good." Today its verification is seen.' Repenting of the past, he returned home.