Grand Master Shaokang
Grand Master Shaokang, surname Zhou, lived in the Tang dynasty and came from the Xiandu mountain region of Jinyun.
From birth, he was silent and did not speak. At age seven, during a vegetarian observance, he followed his mother into a monastery to bow to the Buddha. She pointed at a Buddha image and jokingly asked, “Do you know who that is?” He suddenly replied, “That is our Fundamental Teacher, Shakyamuni World-Honored One!” Knowing that her son had a wholesome affinity with the Buddha-Dharma, his parents allowed him to leave home and become a monk. With sharp faculties, by age fifteen he had already mastered five collections of sutras.
In the first year of the Zhenyuan era, the Great Master visited White Horse Monastery in Luoyang. In the main hall, he saw light radiating from the scripture shelf. Looking closely, he found the light came from Master Shandao’s text Teaching and Transforming Through the Western Pure Land. He then prayed: “If I truly have causes and conditions with the Pure Land, may this text emit light one more time.” As soon as he finished, the radiance blazed even brighter, and within it appeared forms of transformation Bodhisattvas. He joined his palms and said, “Rocks may wear away, but this vow will never change!”
Because of this, the Great Master went to Chang’an to pay homage. The image of the Second Patriarch suddenly rose into the air and told him: “You should rely on my teaching to widely deliver sentient beings. When your work is accomplished, you will be reborn in Ultimate Bliss.” Passing through Jiangling, he met an old monk who said: “If you wish to propagate the Dharma, go to Xinding. Your karmic affinity is there.” After speaking, the monk suddenly disappeared.
After some time, the Great Master arrived in Xinding and saw that the people there did not yet know what Buddha-recitation was. As a skillful means, he first collected funds and encouraged children to recite the Buddha’s name. If a child could recite one phrase, he gave one coin as a reward. This continued for more than a year; later, even without rewards, they still recited. Once the habit became familiar, whether at home or playing in the street, they continued reciting whenever they encountered the Great Master. From then on, men and women, old and young, whenever they saw him, all recited: “A Di Da Phat!” Because of this, the local people gradually gave rise to faith and many began worship and Buddha-recitation.
When he saw that conditions had become fairly mature, the Great Master established a Pure Land practice hall at O Long Mountain and built a three-tier altar. On fasting days, good men and women gathered there to recite the Buddha’s name and hear the Dharma. Usually the assembly exceeded three thousand people.
Whenever he ascended the seat, he joined palms and loudly recited the Buddha’s name, and the assembly below chanted in unison. Sometimes when the Great Master recited one Buddha-name, the congregation saw one Buddha fly out from his mouth. At ten recitations, a hundred, a thousand recitations, there appeared ten, a hundred, a thousand Buddhas flying out in succession like a string of pearls.
The Great Master said, “Since all of you have seen the Buddha, you will certainly be reborn.” Hearing this, everyone felt joyful and deeply comforted.
In the twenty-first year of the Zhenyuan era, in the tenth month, the Great Master gathered all monastics and lay followers and instructed them: “You should generate revulsion toward this evil, defiled Saha world, delight in the peaceful Pure Land, and strive diligently in cultivation. At this moment, whoever can see my light is truly my disciple.”
After speaking, he emitted several long, beautiful rays of extraordinary light, then sat quietly and passed away.
The assembly built his stupa at Dai Nham and honored him with the title Dai Nham Dharma Master.