法苑珠林 65.75

65.75

During the Chen dynasty, the śramaṇa Huibu of Qixia Temple on Mount She was surnamed Hao, a native of Guangling. In his youth he cherished far-reaching integrity; his character was open and upright, his resolve and practice rarely matched, and he was held in high regard by princes and kings. When he saw people rejoicing in rebirth in the Western Pure Land, he would tell them: 'That land is indeed pure, but it is not my wish. What I pray for now is to transform and deliver sentient beings; how could one experience pleasure within a lotus blossom for ten kalpas? It cannot compare to delivering those who suffer in the three miserable destinies.' When he reached the age of seventy, he took leave of the assembly, saying: 'My life has three to five more years left, but I am old and fatigued and cannot practice the Path; what benefit is there in remaining in the world? I always vow to be reborn in the borderlands where the Three Jewels do not exist, to go perform Buddhist works there. May you remain well, and may you strive with effort.' He then abstained from grains and ate no food. When his life was about to end, an imperial decree ordered a physician to examine his pulse, but he drew back his arm and refused. Empress Shen wished to send an offering of incense, but he also refused it. On his deathbed he left these parting words: