龍舒增廣淨土文

The Land of Ultimate Bliss (Sukhāvatī), though separated from this realm by a hundred myriad worlds. To speak of its account, time would not suffice to recount how far it lies. Yet to speak of the Buddha's Nature of Wisdom, because it pervades all the empty-space worlds, there being no place where it is not present, therefore all the thoughts, intentions, deeds, and movements of every sentient being abide entirely within the Buddha-nature. Thus, for a person of utmost sincerity and earnest devotion, there is not a single matter that fails to bring about a response; and so this volume is titled the volume of "RESPONSES MANIFESTED IN THE PRESENT WORLD."

WITNESSING THE TAKING OF LIFE, RECITING THE BUDDHA'S NAME, AND OBTAINING BLESSINGS

In the collection Guanyin's Responses (Quan Âm Cảm Ứng) it is recorded that in the land of Nhiêu Châu there was a man among the soldiers named Trịnh Lân, who died and arrived at the underworld; when Yama the King of the Dead consulted his register and examined the records, it was found that he had been seized in error and so was released to return. King Yama said to him: "When you return to the world of men, strive earnestly to do good; whenever you see anyone taking life, you must recite the name of Amitābha Buddha together with the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara (Quan Thế Âm).

That creature will then be able to be reborn, you yourself will obtain great blessings, and you will likewise in part help me to be spared the labor of judging evil persons." From this, upon full reflection, one sees that a person who recites the name of Amitābha Buddha not only liberates the spirits of the departed but also gains increased blessings and longevity—and not only that, but in their next life they will be born in the Western Land.

MASTER TRẦN KHÍ RECITES THE BUDDHA'S NAME AND DISPELS A GHOST

Master Vương Nhựt Hưu said: Master Trần Khí, of the land of Vọng Giang, was a man of the same prefecture as myself; he often slew men unjustly. Later he saw a ghost appear. Khí, terrified, hurriedly recited the name of Amitābha Buddha, and the ghost dared not draw near. Trần Khí recited the Buddha's name without ceasing, and the ghost then no longer appeared. Afterward he constantly recited the Buddha's name, and at the time of his passing he sat upright and departed this life.

Half a year later, he descended and entered into his granddaughter named Diệu Quang in the household, saying: "By reciting the name of Amitābha Buddha, I have already been born into the Land of Ultimate Bliss." His movements and speech were just as they had been when he was alive, and his relatives and acquaintances all came to visit for two or three days.

The members of the household said: "It is a pity that while he was alive, we were unable to paint his portrait so as to make offerings before it." Hearing this, Trần Khí at once manifested his original form as he had been in life, but his countenance appeared somewhat more youthful and fresh. For those born in the Western Land live forever and do not die; the hair upon his head resembled the hair of the Buddha—indeed, this man was already near to attaining Buddhahood.

This account was related to me by the scholar of the land of Vọng Giang, Master Châu Hiến Thúc.

TRƯU TÂN VƯƠNG RECITES THE BUDDHA'S NAME AND AWAKENS FROM A DREAM

Master Vương Nhựt Hưu said: I once exhorted a scholar of the land of Trấn Giang, Master Trưu Tân Vương, expounding the cultivation of the Western Land.

I said: "If you have no leisure, then each early morning simply join your palms, turn your face toward the West, and recite 'Namo Amitābha Buddha' ten times—that too will suffice."

Tân Vương believed this. One day he lay dreaming and saw himself together with a scholar being led off to the execution ground. In the midst of his terror, Tân Vương at once recited the name of Amitābha Buddha ten times, whereupon he awoke.

Was this not the Buddha making use of this circumstance to render that man's faith firm and unshakable?

TRƯƠNG KẾ TỔ RECITES THE BUDDHA'S NAME TO DELIVER THE DEPARTED

Master Vương Nhựt Hưu said: I once spoke of the matter of the Western Land with a scholar of the land of Trấn Giang, Master Trương Kế Tổ. Kế Tổ believed it. When his wet nurse died, he often recited the name of Amitābha Buddha on her behalf, praying for her deliverance.

One day he lay dreaming and saw his wet nurse return, having borrowed a white-cotton robe to wear; she came to thank Kế Tổ and bade him farewell as she departed for the Western Land.

From this one should know that the practice of reciting the Buddha's name to deliver the departed is truly most efficacious.

LƯU HUỆ TRỌNG RECITES THE BUDDHA'S NAME AND SLEEPS IN PEACE

Master Vương Nhựt Hưu said: Master Lưu Huệ Trọng was a knowledgeable friend of mine in former days, a man of Trường Hưng village in Hồ Châu prefecture. Because every night he would dream and was often gripped by fear, I exhorted him to recite the name of Amitābha Buddha.

Huệ Trọng, with utmost sincerity and in a loud voice, recited it 108 times, and that night he slept peacefully. The next day he recited as he had the day before, and from then on he was always able to sleep in peace. From this I saw that the power of the Buddha is vast and great, and there is no place that He does not shelter and protect.

This account I have already set forth in the earlier volume, in the passage on reciting the Buddha's name for "the Peace and Stillness of Body and Form."

MADAME NGUYỄN TẨU RECITES THE BUDDHA'S NAME AND HER EYES GROW BRIGHT

Master Vương Nhựt Hưu said: There was a Madame Nguyễn Niệm Tam Tẩu of Điền Trang province, Hoài Ninh district, of the same prefecture as myself, who suffered an affliction of both eyes and was nearly blind. She constantly recited the name of Amitābha Buddha, and her pair of eyes grew bright once more.

This account is one that I myself witnessed.

KING YAMA EXHORTS MADAME TƯƠNG TO RECITE THE BUDDHA'S NAME

In the land of Trấn Giang, Kim Đàng district, Chu Lâm village, there was a Madame Tương about 70 years of age, who died and arrived at the underworld; but as her allotted span was not yet exhausted, King Yama allowed her to return and asked her: "Do you recite scriptures?" She answered: "I cannot recite them."

The King said: "If you cannot recite scriptures, then simply recite the name of Amitābha Buddha—that too will do."

Having been released to return, Madame Tương then recounted: "King Yama instructed me to recite the Buddha's name; I no longer harbor any doubt." Therefore she constantly recited this Buddha's name, and she lived nearly one hundred and twenty years before passing away.

That she was born in the Pure Land is most certainly and decisively so. Was it not because of her reciting the Buddha's name that she likewise lived to such a great age! If it were not so, then for what reason could she have lived so long?

This account was related to me by a scholar of Kim Đàng district, Master Trương Duyên Chi.

PACIFICATION COMMISSIONER THIỆU RECITES THE BUDDHA'S NAME AND ESCAPES CALAMITY

In the land of Tấn Giang, there was Master Thiệu Bưu, whose courtesy name was Hi Văn. While he was still a student, he one day lay dreaming and saw himself arriving at a certain official prefecture, where everyone addressed him as the Pacification Commissioner. Thiệu Bưu rejoiced to himself and thought: "Is this omen not a sign that I shall pass the examinations and receive the office of Pacification Commissioner?" Then he went forward and saw an official who asked him: "Do you know the reason why you have not yet passed your examinations?" He answered: "I do not know." That official ordered a man to lead Thiệu Bưu to go and look, and he saw a great cauldron boiling snails and clams.

The snails and clams could speak in human tongue, and seeing Thiệu Bưu pass by, they called out: "Thiệu Bưu!" Bưu, frightened, then recited the name of Amitābha Buddha; he had recited but a single time when the snails and clams transformed into yellow sparrows (se sẻ) and flew away.

Indeed, afterward Thiệu Bưu passed the examinations with high honors and rose in office to the rank of Pacification Commissioner. From this one sees that those who take life obstruct their own future path—how can one not take warning! Moreover one sees that the Buddha's power is vast and great—how can one not revere it! Office and rank have their own appointed measure—they cannot be obtained through greedy craving.

RECITING THE BUDDHA'S NAME, AN AFFLICTION OF WIND DOES NOT ARISE

Master Vương Nhựt Hưu said: I took passage on someone's boat, and as it neared the middle of the river in the land of Trấn Giang, the water grew so shallow that it could go no farther; so I stopped at Kim Sơn Temple and borrowed four sets of scriptures—that is, the Amitābha Sūtra.

I wished to revise and engrave the woodblocks so as to spread it widely. When I took up the brush, there was an affliction of wind in my right hand, several fingers trembling of themselves so that I could not write the characters; I then raised my fingers and recited the name of Amitābha Buddha and of Avalokiteśvara (Quan Thế Âm) several times, earnestly imploring that I be cured of this affliction of wind, so that I might finish copying out this scripture.

When my vow of supplication was completed, my fingers at once ceased trembling, and even until the volume was finished they did not hurt at all. From this one sees that the Buddha and the Bodhisattva are indeed ever present before us; it is only that people's faith is not utterly earnest.

RECITING THE BUDDHA'S NAME WITHIN A DREAM AND ESCAPING TERROR

Master Vương Nhựt Hưu said: When I am in the midst of a confused dream and at times gripped by fear, I recite the name of Amitābha Buddha and of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara (Quan Thế Âm); there has never been an occasion when I did not attain peace and security, or when I did not at once awaken.

This shows fully how swift is the awesome divine power of the Buddha and the Bodhisattva, and how efficacious it is for those possessed of full faith. How could They fail to grant their confirmation?

RECITING THE BUDDHA'S NAME, A HOUSE FAILS TO CRUSH ONE TO DEATH

There was an old woman, blind in both eyes, who would have a young boy lead her by the hand, and she constantly recited the name of Amitābha Buddha. One day she was resting in an old house when the house suddenly collapsed. The young boy fled, but the old woman remained inside. Then two beams came to brace against each other, propping up the area above the old woman so that she escaped being crushed to death. Such is the great efficacy of the practice of reciting the Buddha's name.

This account was related to me by the layman Diệu Định Cư sĩ.

RECITING THE BUDDHA'S NAME, AN AILMENT OF MALARIAL FEVER IS HEALED

There was a circuit official named Lý Tử Thanh, residing in the land of Tú Châu, who was fond of the Way of the Immortals and often studied the Buddhist teachings with me (Vương Nhựt Hưu). Some years ago he contracted an ailment of malarial fever, and I said to him: "I fear only that your heart lacks faith; if you believe this, the ailment will surely be healed."

I gave him a medicinal prescription, instructing him that when the hour came for the ailment to break out, he should single-mindedly recite "Amitābha Buddha" and then take this medicine. Master Tử Thanh heeded these words and did so; that day the ailment lessened by eight parts in ten, the next day it likewise lessened by eight parts, and so it continued until the final day, when he was fully restored to health. From then on Master Tử Thanh held the principles of the Buddha in deep faith, and he often kept the writings on the Pure Land in his sleeve, carrying them with him to recite.

EMBROIDERED IMAGES OF THE BUDDHA OFTEN YIELD ŚARĪRA RELICS

Master Chung Ly Trạch held the office of Junior Preceptor in the land of Chân Châu. For his wife, Madame Nhậm, who cultivated the Western Land, he had carved an image of Amitābha Buddha, four inches and eight tenths in height, made within a shrine carved and ornamented most finely; and wherever she went she would often carry it upon her head to revere and worship it. From between the brows of that image there often issued forth jewel-like Śarīra relics, as large as grains of rice, their radiance shining brilliantly.

This account is drawn from the collection Bửu Châu Tập.

DREAMING OF THE BUDDHA AND AT ONCE ATTAINING ELOQUENT DISCERNMENT

During the Sui dynasty, the Chan Master Huệ Tư, on account of a dream in which he saw Amitābha Buddha expound the Dharma for him to hear, afterward came to possess eloquence and discernment surpassing other men, and the auspicious omens were not just a single one.

This account is drawn from the collection Biographies of Rebirth (Vãng Sinh).

RECITING THE BUDDHA'S NAME TO CURE ILLNESS AND OBTAIN HEALING

In recent years, in the land of Tú Châu, there was a master who often recited the name of Amitābha Buddha to cure illnesses for people. When a sick person invited him to come and recite the Buddha's name, they would often be restored to health. The people throughout the region of Tú Châu all praised him.

RECITING THE BUDDHA'S NAME, A GRANDCHILD ESCAPES CALAMITY

Master Vương Nhựt Hưu said: In my village there was an old man who, whenever any matter arose, would at once join his palms and with utmost sincerity recite the name of Amitābha Buddha.

His grandchild was but three years of age; following his mother to the fields, the child suddenly went missing. The old man searched and inquired but could not find him. After several days, someone came to inform him, saying: "I have seen the footprints of the little child out yonder by the stream!"

Indeed, going out there to search, they found him, and saw footprints filling the entire bank. No one knew by what means the child had crossed to the far side of that stream, which was very deep, and how he had been gone so long yet suffered no harm whatsoever.

People said that this was because his grandfather had, with a heart of utmost sincerity, recited the name of Amitābha Buddha, and thus was able to evoke such a fruit of blessing.

SECTION OF CONCLUDING DISCOURSE

In truth, the Buddhist path is a truth that one must experience for oneself; on the other hand, thinking and understanding have not yet truly arrived upon the right road, for one's observations are not penetrating.

With regard to daily life, what does the Buddhist path exhort us to do?

We should harmonize the practical life of the world with the ideal of altruism, bring our deeds and our thoughts into accord, reject all that is contradictory, and feel through deeply and with compassion the established principle of the impermanence of all dharmas.

In sum, we should direct our lives in accordance with the example of the Buddha and strive to escape the cycle of birth and death and rebirth.

NAMO ORIGINAL TEACHER ŚĀKYAMUNI BUDDHA

THE END OF VOLUME EIGHT