樂邦文類 2.188

2.188

In the winter of the fourth year of the Yuanyou era, [Zongze] dreamed at night of a man wearing a black cap and white robes, about thirty years old, of pure and handsome appearance and relaxed, elegant demeanour. Bowing, he said to [Zongze]: 'I wish to join your Amitābha Society; please write down a name.' [Zongze] then took the record of the Excellent Lotus Society and, holding the brush, asked: 'What is your name, sir?' The white-robed one said: 'My name is Puhui.' After [Zongze] wrote it down, the white-robed one said: 'My elder brother also previously entered his name.' [Zongze] asked: 'What is your elder brother’s name?' The white-robed one said: 'My elder brother’s name is Puxian (Samantabhadra).' The white-robed one then vanished. When [Zongze] woke up, he inquired among the senior elders, and all said: 'In the "Chapter on Transcending the World" in the Avataṃsaka Sūtra, there are the names of two great bodhisattvas.' [Zongze] considered that when sons of the Buddha perform Buddhist activities and assist the Buddha in spreading the teachings, there will certainly be sages and saints secretly lending assistance. But could those participating in this society also be an insignificant condition? Samantabhadra transformed his name and changed his appellation, so who could know who he was? Now he placed the two great bodhisattvas at the head.