Manjusri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva guide the way of chanting the Buddha's name
2025-03-11
by Master Yinguang
According to the record in the third volume of "Biographies of Eminent Monks" "Biography of Master Fazhao":
Master Fazhao, the fourth patriarch of the Pure Land Sect, lived in Yunfeng Temple in Hengzhou, Hunan in the second year of the Dali period of the Tang Dynasty (767 AD). The master saw holy scenes appear in the bowl of porridge many times, but he did not know which famous mountain appeared in the porridge. A fellow Taoist who had been to Mount Wutai told him that it must be Mount Wutai. Later, the master went to Mount Wutai to pay homage.
In the fifth year of Dali, the master came to Wutai County, Shanxi Province, and saw a white light in the distance. He followed the light and arrived at the Great Sage Bamboo Forest Temple. The master entered the temple and walked to the lecture hall. He saw Manjushri Bodhisattva on the west side of the lecture hall and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva on the east side, sitting on the Dharma throne and preaching the profound Buddhist teachings.
The master hurriedly stepped forward to pay homage to the two great bodhisattvas and respectfully ask: "The ordinary people of the Dharma-Ending Age are very far away from the Buddha's time, and the good teachers who can spread the correct Buddhist teachings to sentient beings are no longer as good as they used to be. The karmic obstacles and afflictions of ordinary people are even more serious, and their true Buddha nature cannot be revealed. The Buddhist scriptures are as vast as the ocean, and I don't know which method of practice is the most appropriate and important? I only pray that the great Bodhisattva will kindly guide me and help me get rid of the entanglement of doubt and confusion. "
Manjusri Bodhisattva replied, "You are now chanting the Buddha's name, which is the most suitable method of practice for this era. Among all the methods of practice, none can surpass the method of cultivating both merit and wisdom by chanting the Buddha's name and offering to the Three Jewels. These two methods (reciting the Buddha's name and offering to the Three Jewels) are the most important ways of practice. Why? Because I visualized the Buddha, remembered the Buddha, and made offerings to the Buddha in my past lives, I have now attained sarvathā-jñāna (Buddha Wisdom). Therefore, the method of reciting the Buddha's name is the king of all methods. You should always remember this supreme Dharma King without interruption. "
The master asked again: "Then how should we chant the Buddha's name?"
Manjusri Bodhisattva said: "In the west of this world, there is a Buddha named Amitabha. The power of his vows is inconceivable. You should continue to remember his name without interruption. After your death, you will definitely be reborn in his Pure Land, never regress, and quickly achieve Buddhahood."
After saying these words, the two great holy bodhisattvas each stretched out their golden hands, touched the head of Master Fazhao and gave him a prophecy: "Because you remember and chant the Buddha, you will be able to attain the supreme enlightenment of Bodhi in the near future. If there are good men and women who want to quickly achieve Buddhahood, there is no more convenient and easy method than chanting the Buddha's name. As long as you have faith, aspiration and recite the name, you will be able to quickly achieve the supreme Bodhi. "
After saying this, the two great holy Bodhisattvas recited Gathas to each other. After Master Fazhao heard about this method of peace and happiness that determines success, he was extremely happy and excited. All the obstacles of doubt and confusion in his heart were eliminated.
