法苑珠林 97.58

97.58

In the Jin dynasty, Tang Zun, styled Baodao, was a native of Shangyu. In the eighth year of the Taiyuan reign period of the Jin, he died of a sudden illness, but revived after a night. He recounted that someone had called and led him to a walled administrative seat. Before entering, he saw his paternal uncle coming out from the city, who asked Zun in astonishment: 'Why have you come?' Zun answered: 'I have been separated from my paternal aunt and elder sisters for many years, and wished to visit and inquire after them. I was originally supposed to set out tomorrow morning, but at night I saw several men who urgently summoned me here. I should be able to return home immediately, but I do not know the way back.' His uncle said: 'Your aunt passed away two years ago. Your eldest sister's son, Daowen, was recently summoned here; after receiving grace and being released, he stayed behind to watch a spectacle instead of returning immediately. Only after many days did he go back. By then, his family had already enshrouded and coffined him. He entered into the coffin and shook the vessel, hoping his family would notice and open the coffin. The coffin was brought to the road and fell from the hearse. Some in his family wished to open it, but they consulted a diviner, who said it was inauspicious, so they did not dare open it. Thus he could not revive. Now he is conscripted to haul sand, suffering extreme hardship and toil. You should leave quickly and not linger here. Moreover, your younger sister has also passed away; she is now in hell with your aunt, suffering grief and misery day and night, not knowing when they might be delivered. When you return now, tell her son to cultivate merit diligently, in the hope of liberating them.' Thereupon he showed Zun the way back. As they were parting, he instructed Zun again, saying: 'That you are able to return to life is truly an extraordinary blessing. One's time in the world is brief, fleeting like wind and dust. Heavenly realms and hells, the retributions of suffering and joy—formerly I only heard of them, but now I witness their reality. You must diligently pursue good deeds, devote yourself to filial piety and respect, love the Dharma and uphold the precepts, taking utmost care not to transgress. Once you lose human rebirth and enter this ground of sin, the darkness and misery will be agonizing; what good will your self-remorse do then? Keep this diligently in your heart and never forget it. The relatives of our family did not believe in sin and merit while alive; now they are all cast into misery, enduring long torment and pain, scorched and wounded without a moment's respite. If they sought a single day to reform their evil and do good, how could they attain it? I know all this fully, and therefore entrust it to you, so that you may exhort and guide those within our family to strive together.' Having spoken, he wept, and thus they parted. Zun returned along the path and soon arrived home. His family had almost finished preparing his coffin and was about to attend to the encoffining and funeral. When Zun entered his body, breath soon circulated through the corpse. With the passing of days, he gradually recovered. He exhorted his relatives and acquaintances, and they all revered the Great Dharma. Earlier, Zun's aunt had married Xu Han of Nanjun; his eldest sister had married Yue Yu of Jiangxia; and his younger sister had married Yan Wan of Wuxing. Due to the great distance, all news had long been severed. Once Zun recovered, he went to the three commanderies to search for his aunt and younger sister; his sister and nephews had indeed all passed away. His eldest sister also recounted that after her son Daowen was encoffined, the coffin shook and fell from the hearse, exactly as the uncle had said. Having heard from Zun the circumstances of Daowen's untimely death, his sister grieved and lamented all the more, and made mourning garments for him anew. (This one verification is taken from the Mingxiang ji.)