During the Song Dynasty, a monk by the name Shi Hui Jing was from the Zi County in the Province of Shan Dong. He left the home life in Wu Zhen Monastery, Lan Tian. His main cultivation was reciting the Buddha’s Name as he admired the Western Pure Land and wished to attain a rebirth. He led a simple life, eating only plain vegetarian food. Besides he cultivated all kinds of ascetics. He was good in craft work and he carved the images of Sakyamuni Buddha and Amitabha Buddha which looked like the real Buddha. Everyday he would make offerings to them, bowed to them with great sincerity.
At the age of 67, the fifteenth day of the first month, he dreamt of a monk who had a golden shine came to him and asked, ‘Do you want to see the Western Pure Land?’
‘Yes, I do.’
‘Do you also wish to see Amitabha Buddha?’
He answered, ‘Yes, very much.’
So the monk gave Hui Jing an alms bowl and said, ‘You can look into this alms bowl.’
On looking into the bowl, Hui Jing suddenly saw the appearance of a very expansive and limitless adorned Pure Buddha Land. The ground was golden in colour with golden linings by the side to divide the different paths and realms.The palaces, bungalows and pavilions appeared unendingly in many overlapping layers. The multitude of Bodhisattva and Sages travelled at ease in that land. Innumerable sea-like assemblies of bodhisattva were surrounding Amitabha Buddha to listen to the teaching. All kinds of sagely states appeared in the alms bowl just the way they were described in the Sutra.
After seeing the magnificent manisfestations the monk led him to the Buddha with Hui Jing walking behind him. When they arrived before the Buddha, the monk disappeared suddenly.
Hui Jing put his palms together before the Buddha and he was admiring the adorned countenance of the Buddha singlemindedly, with his eyes fixed on the Buddha.
The Buddha asked, ‘Do you recognize the monk who brought you here?’
Hui Jing said he did not know who he was.
The Buddha said, ‘He is Sakyamuni Buddha which was carved by you! Do you recognize me?’
Hui Jing answered, ‘ No, I am sorry.’
The Buddha said, ‘I am the Amitabha Buddha statue which was carved by you. Let us take the analogy of the parents in the world who have many children. These children are very young and do not know much about the world. They go out to play and unfortunately they fall into the deep mud. The father jumps into the mud to pull the children up, carrying them to safety of the shore. Their mother is standing by the side of the shore, receiving and holding them tightly in her arms, providing them with food, drinks and playthings.
She tells them to be careful so as not to fall into the muddy swamps again.
This is the same with us. Sakyamuni Buddha is teaching the afflicted and deluded living beings in the Saha World, leading them to be born in the Western World of Ultimate Bliss. And I am in the Western Pure Land to gather in the living beings so that they will not fall into transmigration in the six paths again.’
On hearing to the Buddha’s instruction Hui Jing was most happy and he rejoiced, wishing to hear further instruction from the Buddha. Suddenly everything disappeared before him.
When he woke up from the dream he was filled with bliss. His body and mind were calm and happy just as if he had entered the Samadhi. Piously he made obeisance to the two Buddha, making offerings to them diligently. Later he had a chance to meet the former monk in the dream again. The monk said,
‘After 12 years you will be born in the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha.’
On hearing this prediction, Hui Jing was most glad. He diligently recited the Buddha’s Name throughout the days and nights. He was not tired in body and mind. At the age of 79 he attained a rebirth in the Pure Land. The monk who stayed next door to him dreamt of hundreds of thousands Sagely assemblies came from the west to receive Hui Jing to the Western Pure Land. Wonderful music sprung out in the space unceasingly. Many people heard the beautiful music.
‘Sakyamuni resembles your father and I am like your mother.’ Amitabha told Hui Jing personally.
This is very touching as our mind is filled with the warmth of the Buddha’s love. His love resembles the sun in the spring which brings warmth to all living beings. In a household the father plays the role of being wise and strict while the mother takes the role of being loving, gentle and kind. Sakyamuni is the father who teaches the 84000 dharma doors of wisdom to subdue living beings. But all living beings do not possess the potential, the root nature to end birth and death with the doors of wisdom. Only the mother Amitabha Buddha who is extremely kind and compassionate is able to rescue us. He vows to lead all living beings to leave the great ocean of birth and death.
An extract from the Biography of Lofty Sangha in Wu Zhen Monastery
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