Rebirth of Que Gongze of the Jin Dynasty

Que Gongze was a native of the Zhao State. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty, he lived in Luoyang, leading a carefree and joyful life. He often recited the Lotus Sutra. After Que Gongze attained rebirth, his friends organised a Dharma assembly for him at the White Horse Temple in Luoyang. During the evening recital of sutras, they suddenly heard a voice from the sky. Looking up, the crowd saw a figure with a beautiful and radiant appearance, who said, "I am Que Gongze. I have been reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and I have come with other noble beings to listen to the sutras." Everyone present in the hall witnessed this miraculous scene.

There was a man named Wei Shidu, living in Ji County, who was a disciple of Que Gongze. His mother often offered meals to monks. On the same day, just before noon, a begging bowl suddenly came down from the sky, landing directly in front of Wei Shidu's mother. Upon close inspection, the bowl was recognised as the one Que Gongze had used regularly. It was filled with fragrant food that filled the entire hall with its aroma. Those who ate the food from the bowl did not feel hungry for seven days.

Zhi Daolin once praised this event, saying: "How extraordinary! Que Gongze can freely enjoy the boundless and infinite Dharma realm and enter his innate spiritual nature. His consciousness has been reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, while his deeds are seen here, in the capital of the Eastern land. Roaming freely between the vast heavens and earth, he proclaims the Dharma and has a radiant appearance. How could a few words of praise capture the incredible nature of his state?" (Great Tang Internal Canon Record: Treatise on the Jewel King of Buddha-Recitation Samadhi)

- Excerpt from ‘Records of the Pure Land Sages’