宋高僧傳 2.40

2.40

Śramaṇa Buddhapāli, rendered in Chinese as Juehu (Awakening-Protection), was a native of the country of Jibin (Kashmir) in northern India. Forgetting his own person in pursuit of the Dao, he visited sacred traces far and wide. Hearing that Mañjuśrī was at Mount Qingliang, he crossed the shifting sands from afar and personally came to pay homage. In the first year of the Yifeng era of Heavenly Emperor (Gaozong), a bingzi year [676 CE], he reached Mount Wutai with his monk's staff. Revering and bowing with utmost sincerity, he wept tears like rain, hoping to behold the holy countenance. Suddenly he saw an old man emerge from the mountain, who spoke in the Brahman language and asked Buddhapāli, "Master, what is it that you seek?" Buddhapāli replied, "Having heard that the Great Being Mañjuśrī has concealed his traces in this mountain, I have come from India desiring to gaze upon him and pay homage." The old man said, "Master, have you brought the Uṣṇīṣavijayā-dhāraṇī-sūtra from that country or not? Sentient beings in this land commit many transgressions, and those who have left the household life also commit many infractions. The divine spell of the Buddha-Uṣṇīṣa is a secret recipe for eliminating transgressions. If you have not brought the scripture, what benefit is there in having come in vain? Even if you were to see Mañjuśrī, how could you recognise him? Master, you should return to the Western countries, obtain that scripture, and bring it to circulate in this land. That will be serving all the holy ones everywhere, broadly benefiting the multitude of beings, rescuing those in the unseen realms, and requiting the benevolence of all Buddhas. When you have fetched the scripture and arrived, this disciple will show you where Mañjuśrī dwells." When Buddhapāli heard this, he was overjoyed beyond measure. Restraining his tears of sorrow, he bowed toward the mountain once again. When he raised his head, the old man was no longer to be seen. Buddhapāli was astonished, and his reverence and devotion doubled.