法苑珠林 34.33

34.33

Furthermore, the Piyu jing says: In ancient times, there was a man who did not believe or revere the Dharma, but his wife served the Buddha devoutly. The wife said to her husband: "Human life is impermanent; you should cultivate merit and virtue." Her husband was indifferent and indolent. Fearing that he would fall into hell in the future, the wife said to her husband: "I wish to hang a bell above the doorway; whenever you go in or out, shake the bell to make a sound and recite 'Namo Buddha'." Her husband said: "Very well." After a long time, the husband died. The hell wardens speared him to cast him into the cauldron of boiling water; the spear struck the cauldron and made a sound, which he took to be the bell, and he recited "Namo Buddha". When the hell magistrate heard this, he said: "This man reveres the Buddha," and ordered him released, allowing him to be reborn among humans.