法華傳記 7.20

7.20

In ancient times, in the land of India, there was an āraṇyaka bhikṣu who extensively recited the Mahāyāna. The king of that country would regularly spread his hair for him to tread upon as he passed. A bhikṣu said to the king, "This man is an elder (mahallaka) who does not recite the sūtras much; why do you make such great offerings to him?" The king said, "One day at midnight, wishing to see this bhikṣu, I went to his dwelling. I saw this bhikṣu reciting the Lotus Sūtra in a cave, and I saw a person of golden radiance riding a white elephant, joining his palms in offering. As I drew closer, he vanished. I then asked the venerable, 'Did the person of golden radiance vanish because of my coming?' The bhikṣu said, 'That was none other than the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra (Bianji). Samantabhadra himself said, "If there are those who chant and recite the Lotus Sūtra, I will mount a white elephant and come to guide and teach them." Because I recite the Lotus Sūtra, Samantabhadra came of himself.' 'Bianji' is the name of Samantabhadra in the Lotus" (from the Zhidu lun).