From the Yuan-dynasty zaju play 《
东坡梦》 (Dōngpō Mèng) by
吴昌龄: '
久闻老师父大名,
今日得睹尊颜,
三生有幸' — 'Long have I heard the master's name; to behold him today is the fortune of three lifetimes.'
三生 'three lives' draws on the Buddhist
前生今生来生 (past/present/future life) framework: being lucky across all three is the highest honor imaginable.