宋荆王夫人
[28] Sòng [Dynasty’s] King Jīng’s Madam
元祐间,荆王夫人与婢妾精修西方。唯一妾懈怠,夫人斥去。其妾悔悟精进。
Within Yuányòu [years], King Jīng’s madam [i.e. wife] and [her] concubines diligently cultivated [to reach the] Western [Pure Land]. Only [having] one concubine [who was] lazy, [the] madam scolded [her, telling her to] leave [their group cultivation. As] this concubine regretted [and] awakened [to her mistake, she practised] diligently.
久之,谓他妾云: 「吾今夜当生西方。」
[After] a long time, [to the] other concubines, [she] said, ‘I tonight will [be] born [in the] Western [Pure Land].’
是夜异香满室,无疾而终。
That night, extraordinary fragrance filled [her] room, [as she] without sickness, then departed.
明日,同事之妾告夫人云:「昨夜梦化去之妾,托致起居云:『夫人训责我修西方,今已获往生,感德无量。』」
[The] next day, [another] concubine [who worked] together told [the] madam, ‘Last night, [I] dreamt [of the] departed concubine, [who] entrusted [me to] send [her] regards, saying, “[With the] madam’s instruction [and] scolding, [for my] cultivation [to reach the] Western [Pure Land, I have] now already obtained rebirth [there. My] gratitude [for her] kindness [is] immeasurable.”‘
夫人云:「使我亦梦,乃可信耳。」其夜夫人梦见亡妾,叙谢如前。
Madam said, ‘[If] causing me [to] also dream, [only] then, can [I] believe [this].’ That night, [the] madam dreamt [and] saw [the] departed concubine, narrating [and] thanking, like [that said] before.
夫人云:「西方可到否?」
Madam said, ‘[Of the] Western [Pure Land], can [it be] reached or not?’
妾云:「可到,但从妾行。」
Madam said, ‘[It] can [be] reached, [if you] only follow concubine [to] walk.’
夫人随之。见池塘广大,红白莲华大小相间,或荣或悴,种种不同。
[The] madam followed her, [and] saw [a] pond [that was] vast [and] extensive, [with] red [and] white lotus flowers big [and] small in between, perhaps flourishing, perhaps withering, [with] all kinds not [the] same.
夫人问云:「何以如此?」
Madam asked, ‘Why [is it] like this?’
妾云:「此皆世间发念修西方人也。才发一念,池内便生莲华一朵。若愿心精进,则华日日敷荣,以至大如车轮。若愿心退转,则华日日萎悴,以至殒灭。」
[The] concubine said, ‘These [are] all [due to the] world’s people, [who] gave rise [to] cultivation [to reach the] Western [Pure Land]. Just giving rise [to one] thought, [the] pond within then grows a stalk [of] lotus flower. If [the] mind [of] Aspiration [is] diligent, then [will the] flower day [by] day blossom [and] flourish, up to [being] like [a] chariot wheel [in] size. If [the] mind [of] Aspiration retrogresses, then [will the] flower day [by] day wilt [and] wither, down to [it] perishing [and] disappearing.’
次见一人坐莲华上,其衣飘扬散去,宝冠璎珞庄严其身。
Next seeing a person seated [on a] lotus flower above, [with] his clothes fluttering away, [with a] treasure crown [and] necklace adorning his body.
夫人问云:「何人也?」
Madam asked, ‘Who [is this] person?’
妾云:「杨杰也。」
[The] concubine said, ‘Yáng Jié.’
又见一人坐于华上,妾云:「此马玕也。」
Also seeing a person seated on [a] flower above, [the] concubine said, ‘This [is] Mǎ Gān.’ [i.e. Or Mǎ Yú (马玗).]
夫人云:「我当生何处?」
Madam said, ‘I will [be] born [in] which place?’
妾引行数里许,遥望见一金坛,金碧照曜。
[The] concubine guided [her to] walk perhaps several lǐs [i.e. with one lǐ being half a kilometre]. Looking [into the] distance, seeing a gold platform, [with] gold [and] emerald illuminating.
妾云:「此夫人化生处,乃上品上生也。」
[The] concubine said, ‘This [is] madam’s place [for] transformed birth, then [in the] High Grade’s High Birth.’
夫人既觉,访问杨、马所在,则杰已亡,而玕无恙。是知精进不退者,虽身在娑婆之内,其神识已在净土矣。
[The] madam, [when] already awakened, inquired [to] ask [about the] locations [of] Yáng [and] Mǎ, then [knowing that] Jié [has] already departed, [and that] Gān [is] without sickness. [From] this, knowing [that] those [with] diligence not retrogressing, although [with their] bodies within [the] Sahā [World], their consciousnesses [are] already at Pure Land [too].
后夫人于生日,秉炉焚香,望观音阁而立。子孙方具献寿之仪,已立化矣。
Later, [the] madam, on [her] birthday, held [a] censer [and] burnt incense, [as she] gazed [at] Guānyīn Bodhisattva’s pavilion, then standing. [When her] children [and] grandchildren then together [went through the] ceremony of offering [wishes of] longevity, [she has] already stood [and] departed.
[Note: She indeed attained the greatest longevity possible, of immeasurable life, by reaching Pure Land.]
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 and notes by Shen Shi’an
相关教理
Related Teachings:
上篇
Previous Essay:
宋临安府仁和吴琼
[27] Sòng Dynasty’s Lín’ān Residence’s Rénhé’s Wúqióng
https://purelanders.com/2022/01/29/27-song-dynastys-linan-residences-renhes-wuqiong
下篇
Next Essay:
宋观音县君
[29] Sòng Dynasty’s Guānyīn Xiànjūn
https://purelanders.com/2022/01/29/29-song-dynastys-guanyin-xianjun
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
相关传记
Related Biography:
十位相连宋朝净土圣贤
[3]-[12] 10 Related Sòng Dynasty Pure Land Sages
https://purelanders.com/2018/12/04/10-related-song-dynasty-pure-land-sages