1. Meditation and meditation, you can see the distant teacher
Master Fazhao (747821 AD), his life experience and deeds are unknown.There is a saying that the master was from Nanliang. He first came to Mount Lu from Eastern Wu. He admired the beauty of Duke Yuan, formed a Western temple, and devoted himself to meditation. He entered meditation and went to the Pure Land one day. He saw Master Chengyuan serving the Buddha and was shocked to enlightenment.In the middle of the Yongtai year (765766 AD), he climbed Mount Heng in Nanyue and learned from Master Chengyuan to receive the Pure Land Dharma. Later, he began to practice the method of chanting Buddha's name.
2. Amitabha pointed out, the five Buddhist sounds
In the summer of the second year of Yongtai (766 AD), Master Fazhao worked diligently at the Amitabha Buddha's temple in the southern mountain Amitabha platform until the night of the second seventh day, and arrived at the Amitabha Buddha's place and said to the Buddha: What wonderful Dharma is there? I only wish to say it, but I wish to say it.The Buddha said: There are five methods of chanting Buddha's name invaluable Buddhist chanting, which are in harmony with that turbid and evil world.After saying that, the Buddha's border, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and water birds and trees all had five sects and chanting Buddha's scriptures. The master roughly wrote a few points.Amitabha Buddha also said: When you recite the Buddha's name according to these five teachings, you will be able to recite the Buddha's name according to these five teachings, and you will be able to recite the Buddha's name in this country.
3. Stay in the cloud peak and appear in the holy realm
In the second year of Dali (767 AD), on Yunfeng, Nanyue, I occasionally saw the auspicious clouds and the temple in my bowl. There was a stone gate to the north of the Jianxi River, and there was a temple inside, with the golden character of Dasheng Zhulin Temple.Although the master saw this scene clearly, he still suspected that it was his own illusion.After a while, when I was using the fasting, I saw the five-color auspicious clouds, pavilions and pavilions in the bowl, and also saw Manjushri Bodhisattva preaching to all the saints.After eating the vegetarian food, the scene disappeared.I don’t know which mountain it was, but the master consulted another monk and knew that it was the scene of Mount Wutai, so he had the idea of worshiping Wutai, but he had many obstacles and failed to do it.
4. Start the Buddha's chanting meeting, and the three saints appear
In the summer of the fourth year of Dali (769 AD), the master opened the Wuhui Buddha chanting temple at Hudong Temple in Hengzhou. He felt that the five colors of clouds covered the temple. Many pavilions and temples appeared in the auspicious clouds. Amitabha and the two Bodhisattvas were tall and filled with the void.Everyone who participated in the Dharma Assembly clearly saw it, and they all bowed with joy and joy.This scene lasted for four hours before disappearing.
5. Guide your actions with wishes and be willing to go to the stage
That night, the master met an old man in the Buddhist temple. The old man said to the master: The master once made a vow to worship Wutai, why can't he do it for a long time?The master replied: There are many obstacles and the journey is long, how can I get there?The old man said: As long as you are willing to make up your mind, how can you stop the road from being far and rugged?After saying that, he disappeared suddenly.The master was surprised and happy and swore again in front of the Buddha statue that when the Buddhist chanting session was over, he would set off and set fire to gather in the ice river, and he would never give up his ambition.So, I set off with several comrades and the journey was indeed smooth.
6. Bamboo Forest Holy Temple, hear the profound and wonderful Dharma
On April 5, the fifth year of Dali (770 AD), the master and several others arrived at Mount Wutai. They were guided by the Buddha's light and were led to the Great Sage Zhulin Temple by the two boys Shancai and Nanda. They saw Manjushri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva sitting upright on the throne of the lecture hall, preaching to the public, which was vividly heard.
7. See Manjushri personally and show him to recite the Buddha's name
After bowing respectfully to the two great Bodhisattvas, the master asked: The last ordinary people had shallow knowledge and the Buddha nature was unpredictable. What method is the most important thing to practice without reviewing?Manjushri Bodhisattva replied: You are chanting Buddha’s name now, and it is the time to do so.All practices have no mistakes in reciting the Buddha's name, offering sacrifices to the Three Jewels, and practicing both blessings and wisdom.In the past, I have gained all kinds of wisdom because of observing the Buddha, chanting the Buddha's name, and offering sacrifices.The master asked again: What should I think?Manjushri Bodhisattva taught: There is Amitabha Buddha in this world, and the power of vows is difficult to think about. You should recite it to make it uninterrupted and destined to be reborn in the end of your life.
Eight, Two Saints, and teach the Tao to remember
After speaking, the Bodhisattva touched the master's head and gave him a prophecy: By chanting the Buddha's name, you will soon attain the supreme fruit.Good men and women in the world should practice the method of chanting Buddha's name if they want to achieve Buddhahood quickly.After speaking, the two great saints spoke verses to each other.The master listened respectfully, filled with joy in the Dharma, and retreated with courtesy.
9. Based on what you see and hear, build a temple imitate
In a moment, the scenery just now suddenly disappeared, and the master felt sad, so he erected a huge rock on the spot to commemorate it.Later, he was advised by an old Buddhist monk to declare what he saw and heard, and built a solemn temple on the spot called the Great Sage Zhulin Temple.
10. Instruct us to enter the palace and teach us how to recite the Buddha's name
Therefore, the master practiced the method of chanting Buddha's name thoroughly and worked diligently. He practiced the five teachings of chanting Buddha's name in Bingzhou, and taught believers to chant Buddha's name.At that time, Daizong often heard the sound of chanting Buddha's name in the northeast of Chang'an Palace, so he sent envoys to search. As for Bingzhou (now Taiyuan), he saw that the master was so encouraging, so he ordered him to enter the palace and teach the palace people to chant Buddha's name.The master also passed it on the musical tunes of the Five Messengers, and ordered the title of the National Master.
11. Lead the crowd to chant the Buddha's name, and the auspicious sign appears on the East Taiwan
In the 12th year of Dali (777 AD), the master led eight disciples to recite the Buddha's name diligently in Mount Wutai, and saw the strange clouds in Dongtai. Manjushri Bodhisattva rode a green-haired lion. At that time, snowflakes were floating in the sky, and the five-color round light of Manjushri Bodhisattva spread throughout the valley.
12. Complete achievements and karma, and be reborn freely
The master often saw supernatural powers, and he became more and more precise in reciting the Buddha's name. He was not out of date day and night. Once, he saw the Buddhist monk Buddha Poli in his meditation and said, "Youhua has been completed and will be opened in the next three years."When the third year arrived, the master told the crowd: I have gone.Sitting upright and silent.The master practiced the method of chanting Buddha's name throughout his life, worked diligently and diligently, responded to the extraordinary, served as a messenger of the Tathagata, spread the five sects of chanting Buddha's name, and saved sentient beings. He also wrote three volumes of "The Five sects of chanting Buddha's name, reciting sutras and practices" and "Praise the Pure Land Buddha's name, Praise the Pure Land Buddha's name", etc., and observed his virtues and achievements, he is truly worthy of the honor of a generation of ancestors.
《Pure Land Magazine, 2017, Issue 4 /Ren Xinyu
