佛祖統紀 42.9

42.9

In the second year, an imperial decree summoned more than four hundred śramaṇas and Daoist priests to debate and hold a feast in the Daming Palace. ○ The Emperor visited Xingfu Monastery to watch the Śramaṇa Wenxu expound the sūtras; the Emperor praised him. ○ Bai Juyi composed the Record of the Avataṃsaka Sūtra Society, stating: "Śramaṇa Nancao of Longxing Monastery in Hangzhou, moved by Master Daofeng of Lingyin expounding the Chapter on the Avataṃsaka World, made a vow to urge one hundred thousand monastics and laypeople to uphold one copy of the Avataṃsaka Sūtra; these one hundred thousand people would each urge a thousand others to chant one fascicle of the Avataṃsaka Sūtra. Every year, in all four seasons, the assembly gathered for a communal vegetarian feast. Cao held incense, knelt, and addressed the Buddha, saying: 'I vow that in future lives, within the Avataṃsaka-treasury world, above the Great Ocean of Fragrant Water, amid the precious lotus and golden wheel, before Vairocana Buddha, I may be together with these one hundred thousand people.' Thereupon he raised funds from the assembly to purchase one thousand qing of fields to supply the feasts. He came to ask me for a record, saying: 'You are one of the one hundred thousand people.'"