22.眷屬亦出家 His relatives also choosing to leave the home life behind

眷屬亦出家

公父還鄉後念妻早喪。憶子逃亡。憂患成病而逝世。庶母王氏受刺激。遂率二媳出家為尼。王氏法名妙淨。田氏法名真潔。譚氏法名清節。一心懺悔多生業障。舍棄染緣。求往極樂見彌陀。

宣化偈曰： 人間眷屬佛國魔。由來大聖多坎坷。 迨至彼岸回頭看。返迷歸覺謝提婆。

His relatives also choosing to leave the home life behind

After the Master’s father returned to Hsiang-hsiang, he thought about the early death of his former wife, and he grieved about his son’s leaving home. Because of these melancholy thoughts, he became ill and left the world. The Master’s step-mother Wong was moved by his death, and led the Master’s two wives to go forth from home as Bhikshunis with her, which all of them did. His step-mother Wong was given the Dharma name Miao Ching (Wonderful Purity); his wife T’ien was named Chen Chieh (True Purity); and the Dharma name of his wife T’an was Ching Chieh (Pristine Chastity). They single-mindedly repented of their numerous karmic obstacles, let go of the threads of defilement, and sought rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss in order to see Amitabha Buddha.

The verse says: Mortal kinsmen and relatives are the demons of Buddhalands. They were the very reason for the Sage’s trouble and adversity. After arriving at the other shore, with a turn of the head he perceived this. Inverting confusion, he returned to awaken, thanks to Devadatta.