Translations

[10] [92] Táng Dynasty’s Táizhōu’s Monastic Huáiyù 唐台州僧怀玉

唐台州僧怀玉
[10] Táng [Dynasty’s] Táizhōu’s Monastic Huáiyù


怀玉,注想净业,近四十年。天宝元年,玉念佛间,忽见西方圣众数若恒沙,中有一人手擎(qíng)银台以示玉。

Huáiyù, focused [on] contemplation [for his] pure karma, [for] nearly forty years. [In] Tiānbǎo’s first year [i.e. 742 C.E.], Yù in mindfulness [of] Buddha, suddenly saw [the] West[ern Pure Land’s] noble assembly, [with those] numbering like [the] Ganges’ sands. Within was a person, [with his] hand holding up [a] silver dais, with [it] shown [to] Yù.

玉曰:「如玉者,本望金台,何为银台耶?」台乃隐,人亦隐。于是弥加精苦。

Yù said, ‘[As] this Yù, originally hoped [for a] golden dais, why [is this a] silver dais?’ [The] dais then disappeared, [and the] person also disappeared. Thereupon, [he] extensively increased [his] diligent strife.

[Note 1: The Contemplation Sūtra《观经》does not state any non-golden lotus dais for any of the Nine Grades (九品) of birth, while it only explicitly states a golden lotus flower (金莲华) for the [1.3] High Grade’s Low Birth (上品下生) and the [3.3] Low Grade’s Low Birth (下品下生).

Interestingly, the daises for the [1.2] second highest grade of birth (上品中生) and the [3.3] lowest grade of birth (下品下生) are purple-/gold (紫/金) in colour. Thus, all the nine grades of birth might indeed be with golden daises (above [1.2] and above [3.3]), without different colours representing different grades.]

[Note 2: Does this mean that the Dharma Master saw a non-golden dais to represent a grade of birth lesser than that of the lowest grade? If so, there is only one more ‘grade’ of birth left, that is still applicable in Pure Land. It is for those who have meritorious virtues (功德) and aspire to reach the Pure Land, however with doubts and confusions (疑惑) about the Buddha’s supreme wisdom, thus born in its borderland’s (边地) seven treasures’ palace halls (七宝宫殿) for five hundred years (which translates to less than one second in the Pure Land’s time) with regrets first.

Although not having punishment, they are with not encountering the Triple Gem (三宝) (for making offerings and cultivating good roots) to create meritorious virtues as the only blessings amiss then, despite having other joys. However, there can be continual and more diligent mindfulness of Buddha (念佛), to swifter practise repentance (忏悔), thus eliminating evil karma (消恶业), which should lead to swifter entry of the Pure Land’s ‘mainland’.

As the Dharma Master has cultivated pure karma for nearly forty years, it was extremely unlikely that he would attain only a middle, low or borderland grade of birth.]

至三七日,向之擎台者复来告云:「法师以精苦故,得升上品。」又云:「上品往生,必先见佛,可趺坐以俟(qí)佛来。」未旋踵(zhǒng)间,异光照室。

Reaching three [of] seven days, that former [person, who] held up [the] dais, again came, telling him, ‘[The] Dharma Master, with diligence strife thus, [will] ascend [to the] High Grade.’ Also saying, ‘[As those in the] High Grade reborn, [will] definitely first see [the] Buddha, [you] can sit [in the] lotus posture, [to] wait for [the] Buddha, [to] come [and receive you.’ In the] time yet [to] turn [on the] heel, extraordinary light illuminated [the] room.

[Note 3: Although the Contemplation Sūtra’s Nine Grades of birth did not mention seeing of the Buddha coming to receive those with [3.3] Low Grade’s Low Birth (下品下生), it also does not say the Buddha will not be seen after the golden lotus flower is seen.

(Note that the person, who is a manifested Bodhisattva said that those of the High Grade born will see the Buddha first. This can also mean that those of other grades might see him a little later.)

Also, for the [2.3] Middle Grade’s Low Birth (中品下生), there was also no mention of the Buddha seen. Yet, for the next higher grade, which is the [2.2] Middle Grade’s Middle Birth) (中品中生), and the next lower grade, which is the [3.1] Low Grade’s High Birth) (下品上生), both mentioned that the Buddha will be seen. This means not mentioning seeing of the Buddha need not mean the Buddha will surely not be seen.

In fact, according to the Mindfulness Of Buddha’s Perfect Penetration’s Section《念佛圆通章》, Great Power Arrived Bodhisattva (大势至菩萨) taught clearly that, ‘With recollection or mindfulness of the Buddha, there will definitely be seeing of the Buddha.’ (忆佛念佛,必定见佛). This is a definitive, universal and assuring statement.]

又三日,异光再发。玉曰:「若闻异香,我报身即尽。」

Furthermore, three days [later], extraordinary light again emitted. Yù said, ‘If smelling extraordinary fragrance, my retribution body [has] then ended.’

次日书偈云:

「清净皎洁无尘垢,莲华化生为父母。
我经十劫修道来,出示阎浮厌众苦。
一生苦行超十劫,永离娑婆归净土。」

[The] next day, [he] wrote [a] verse,

‘Pure [and] sparkling clean, without dust [and] dirt [i.e. defilements], [from] lotus flowers [with] transformed birth, as [my] parents. I, passing ten kalpas, [for] cultivating [of the] path coming, showing [in] Jambudvīpa, revulsion [of] all suffering. [In] one life [with] ascetic practices surpassing [those in] ten kalpas, forever departing [from this] Sahā [World, for] return [to the] Pure Land.’

偈毕,香气四来,弟子有见佛与二菩萨共乘金台,台傍千百化佛,自西而下迎玉。玉恭敬合掌,含笑长归。

[With the] verse completed, fragrance [in the] air [from the] four [directions] came, [and his] disciples have [those] seeing [the] Buddha and two Bodhisattvas together riding golden daises. [By the] daises’ sides [were a] thousand hundred manifested Buddhas, from [the] West then descending [to] welcome Yù. Yù reverenced [with] joined palms, [with his] mouth smiling, long departed.

[Note 4: The ‘mystery’ as to why there was a non-golden lotus shown in the first place by the person could be solved if it was just a skilful means for motivating more diligent practice to reach the grade aspired for. If it was for actual reception and guidance (接引) to Pure Land, the Buddha would have appeared with a golden lotus.]

宋‧王日休
《龙舒净土文》
第五卷: 感应事迹三十篇

Sòng [Dynasty’s] Wáng Rìxiū
Lóngshū’s Pure Land Text:
Fifth Scroll: Thirty Essays [On] Deeds [Of] Connection [And] Response


Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an

相关教理
Related Teachings:


上篇
Previous Essay:


唐京师僧善导
[9] Táng Dynasty’s Capital City’s Monastic Shàndǎo

https://purelanders.com/2022/01/24/9-tang-dynastys-capital-citys-monastic-shandao

下篇
Next Essay:


唐汾州僧启芳圆果
[11] Táng Dynasty’s Fénzhōu’s Monastics Qǐfāng And Yuánguǒ
https://purelanders.com/2022/01/26/11-tang-dynastys-fenzhou-monastics-qifang-and-yuanguo/

三十篇
Thirty Essays:


《龙舒净土文》
第五卷:感应事迹三十篇
Lóngshū’s Pure Land Text:
[5] Fifth Scroll: Thirty Essays On Deeds Of Connection And Response
https://purelanders.com/longshu5

相关经典
Related Sūtra:

《观经》
Contemplation Sūtra
https://purelanders.com/guanjing

相关文章
Related Articles:

边地偈
Verses On Borderland
https://purelanders.com/2021/01/01/verses-on-borderland/

劫日偈
Verses On Kalpas As Days
https://purelanders.com/2021/01/01/verses-on-kalpas-as-days/

念佛者皆见佛接引吗?
Will All See The Buddha Receive Them When Practising Mindfulness Of Him?
一般偈
Verses For The General Person
https://purelanders.com/2021/03/16/will-all-see-the-buddha-receive-them-when-practising-mindfulness-of-him/

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