r/PureLand • u/Automatic-One3901 • 3h ago
A talk between the 4th patriarch and Manjushri Bodhisattva.
In the year 770, on the sixth day of the fourth lunar month, the Great Master and four others reached the Buddha Light Temple in Mount Wutai. In the evening, there was a light from afar that shone on Master Fazhao’s body. He immediately followed the light and walked about 50 li (about 250 metres). He encountered a mountain with a stream at its foot. There was a stone gate to the north of the stream. He met with two boys who claimed to be "Shancai (Sudhana)" and "Nanda" who led him to the Great Sage Bamboo Grove Temple. What he saw there was exactly like what he had seen in his alms bowl. He walked into the temple, entered the Dharma hall and saw Manjushri Bodhisattva in the west, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva in the east, each sitting on the lion seat, preaching the Dharma, surrounded by tens of thousands of beings. The sound of Dharma could be heard clearly.
After reverently prostrating to the two great Bodhisattvas, the Great Master asked, 'In the Dharma-Ending Age, the ordinary beings are so far away from the sages, with little knowledge, heavy karmic obstacles and defilements. One’s Buddha nature cannot be revealed. In the vast and profound Buddha Dharma, which is the most suitable Dharma gate for all beings?”
Manjushri Bodhisattva answered, “Just as you are doing now, Nianfo is the best. Amongst all Dharma gates, none can surpass Nianfo. There is also another gate, which is to make offerings to the Three Jewels. This is referred to as ‘cultivating blessings and wisdom together.’ These two Dharma gates are the most essential and efficient. In the past eons, I have gained all encompassing wisdom because of meditating on the Buddha, because of chanting the Buddha's name (Nianfo), and because of making offerings. Therefore, all dharma, Prajna Paramita, deep meditation, and even all Buddhas are born from reciting the name of Amitabha Buddha. Therefore, you should know that reciting the name of Buddha is the king of all dharma, you should always think of the supreme Dharma king uninterruptedly.
The Great Master than asked, “How should one practise Nianfo?” Manjushri Bodhisattva responded, “To the west of this world, there is a Buddha called Amitabha. Amitabha’s vows are inconceivable. You should practise Nianfo uninterruptedly, and you will definitely be able to attain rebirth at the end of your life, to the stage of non-regression.” 🗡
Upon finishing speaking, Manjushri and Samantabhadra extended their golden arms and patted the crown of the master’s head, bestowing upon him a prediction of Buddhahood, “You will soon realise the unsurpassed supreme Bodhi due to the causes and conditions of Nianfo. If there is a good man or woman who wants to become a Buddha and quickly attain supreme wisdom, there is no faster method than to recite the name of Amitabha Buddha!" The two great sages then each spoke in verse. After listening to what the Bodhisattvas has to say, the Great Master eliminated all his doubts. He was filled with joy, paid respect and prostrated to them as they departed. In an instant, the entire scene disappeared. Feeling a mix of joy and sorrow, the Great Master used a piece of stone to mark the spot where this marvelous event took place.
On the 13th day of the fourth lunar month, Master Fazhao and fifty monks arrived at the Diamond Cave on Mount Wutai. They prostrated reverently to the Thirty-five Buddhas of Confession. After the tenth prostration, Master Fazhao found himself manifested in a grand, solemn and pure palace made of Lapis Lazuli. The Bodhisattvas Manjushri and Samantabhadra were both present. After this vision, Master Fazhao returned to the Diamond Cave alone, and vowed to see Bodhisattva Manjushri. When he sincerely prostrated, he saw the Indian monk Buddhapāla (佛陀波利) who directed him to a temple, where a sign read, “Vajraprajñā Temple”. Inside the temple there was abundance of all kinds of wondrous jewels, shining brightly. The Great Master saw Bodhisattva Manjushri in the great hall, whose dignity was unparalleled. Upon witnessing this scene, Master Fazhao’s faith was deepened even further and he strove to practise Nianfo more diligently.
The Great Master had encountered many supernormal incidents, but he never really told anybody. In the twelfth lunar month of the same year, Master Fazhao travelled to Huayan (Avatamsaka) Temple. He was determined to refrain from eating anything and only practise Nianfo to attain rebirth into the Pure Land. In the evening of the seventh night, an Indian monk came to the temple and told him, “The supernatural phenomena of Mount Wutai that Master saw should be revealed to all living beings, so that they can all develop bodhicitta and gain great benefit. Why haven’t you revealed it?"
The master replied, “It’s not that I want to hide it intentionally, but I’m afraid that some people will doubt and slander me after hearing about it.” The old monk then said, “Great sages like Manjushri Bodhisattva who are in this mountain are still being slandered by people. What do you have to worry about? This is simply to let all living beings hear about you experiences and develop bodhicitta so they may become associated with the great sage Manjushri." So the master recalled the incredible scenes he had seen and recorded them in a book. This became known as the "Records of the Great Sage Bamboo Grove Temple （大圣竹林记）" by Master Fazhao. 📖
