法苑珠林 94.8

94.8

During the Song dynasty, Jiang Xiaode was a native of Jiangling. When Zhu Xun was the Inspector of Yuezhou, Xiaode served as an Overseeing Master of the Office. From youth, he had faithful devotion and was surpassingly diligent and cautious. Xun favored him, and whenever there were Buddhist ceremonies, he always had him supervise their affairs. Toward the end of the Daming reign period, he fell ill and died. At the third watch of the night, just as he was about to be encoffined, he revived and said that an envoy had come claiming to summon him by the King's order. Xiaode followed him. Upon arrival, the King said, 'You have been diligent, careful, and reverently served the Great Dharma. The Emperor's decree contains a refined meaning: because of your dedicated devotion, you should quickly be reborn in a good realm. But your lifespan is still long, which is why I specially summoned you. Today, you shall joyfully receive the pleasures of heaven.' Xiaode gladly assented. The King said, 'You may return home for now; quickly attend to any instructions you wish to entrust and any merits you wish to cultivate. Return after seven days.' Xiaode accepted these words and returned. His route passed through a place where there was a small hut that was exceedingly dilapidated. He encountered Master Nan of the Xin Temple in front of this hut. As they had known each other previously, they greeted each other thoroughly. Master Nan said, 'Since leaving home, this poor monk had never drunk wine. Recently, I went to Master Lan's place, and Master Lan pressed me hard, forcing me to drink about a sheng. I was summoned by the King for this reason. Had this poor monk not been implicated in this, I would have attained birth in heaven. Now I must dwell in this dilapidated house; only after three years can I ascend.' When Xiaode reached home, wishing to verify these words, he immediately sent someone that evening to inquire. Master Nan indeed, on that very day, had fallen asleep at Master Lan's place and died by evening. After Xiaode recovered, within seven days he extensively arranged offerings of merit. When the appointed time came, he suddenly passed away. Zhu Xun thereupon exempted his household servants and the two monks, Lan and Nan, both of whom resided at Xin Temple. Nan's practice of the Way was especially refined, unlike ordinary monks.