Rebirth of the King of Udiana
The King of Udiana had a deep affinity for Buddhism. He once confided in his close attendants, saying, "Although I am the king of a nation and enjoy happiness and pleasure, I cannot escape impermanence. I have heard that in the West, there is a Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, a place to which one can commit one’s aspirations. I should now vow to be reborn there." From that moment on, he diligently practiced and Nianfo (reciting Amitabha Buddha’s name) all the time. Every time he made food offerings to the Buddha and the Sangha, he and the queen personally performed the rituals, continuing this for thirty years without stopping. At the time of his passing, his complexion was joyful and peaceful, and he displayed various auspicious signs of spiritual response. (Collected Accounts of Rebirth)
Commentary: "Since the spread of Buddhism to the East, there have been many rulers who sincerely upheld and promoted the Dharma with deep devotion across the generations. However, historical records of those who displayed auspicious signs at the time of their rebirth are rare, so detailed examination is difficult. In the past, Emperor Yao, after governing his people and stabilizing the affairs of the land, journeyed to Mount Miao Gu She (a place said to be inhabited by sages), and there met four wise men. Upon arriving, he felt a sense of melancholy, as though he had lost his kingdom, and no longer found any great importance in it. If one can truly regard the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss as their ultimate refuge, their attitude towards worldly matters should also be like this!"
- Excerpt from ‘Records of the Pure Land Sages’
