Rebirth of Yu Shen of the Liang Dynasty

Yu Shen, courtesy name Yanbao, was a native of Xinye County in Henan. He was knowledgeable about classical texts, historical records, esoteric scriptures, and divination. In terms of his personality, Yu Shen favoured peace and simplicity, showing a particular love for mountains, forests, and springs. He followed a vegetarian diet and wore coarse clothes. He did not concern himself with managing or acquiring land, acted with tolerance and gentleness, and delighted in doing virtuous deeds that benefitted sentient beings.

Yu Shen had known Emperor Wu of Liang since the emperor's youth. Later, when Emperor Wu was raising an army to conquer the lands, he appointed Yu Shen as the secretary of the Western Pacification Bureau (an official in charge of managing records), but Yu Shen refused to take up the position. After Emperor Wu ascended the throne during the Pu Tong era, he summoned Yu Shen again, offering him the position of Yellow Gate Attendant. Yu Shen again declined, saying he was ill.

In his later years, Yu Shen built a practice hall in his home, where he performed repentance rituals day and night and recited the Lotus Sutra once each day. One night, he suddenly saw a practitioner who introduced himself as "Yuan Gong." This figure was extraordinary in appearance and behaviour and addressed Yu Shen as "Sir of the High Practice," and then presented him with incense before departing.

In the fourth year of the Zhong Da Tong era (532 CE), while napping during the day, Yu Shen awoke suddenly and said, "Yuan Gong has returned; I cannot stay much longer." Shortly after saying this, he attained rebirth. Everyone in the room heard a voice from the air chanting, "Sir of the High Practice has been reborn in Amitabha Buddha’s Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss." Yu Shen was seventy-eight years old at the time. (History of the Southern Dynasties)

- Excerpt from ‘Records of the Pure Land Sages’