華嚴經傳記 1.43

1.43

Treatise on the Avataṃsaka in Six Hundred Fascicles. Formerly, in the first year of the Dahe era of the Northern Qi, the third prince sought Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva on Mount Qingliang and burned his body as an offering. The prince had a court eunuch named Liu Qianzhi. Having already lamented his own bodily mutilation and witnessing the prince's immolation, he presented a memorial requesting permission to enter the mountains to practice the Path, which was granted by imperial decree. He then took along a copy of this sūtra, striving day and night, performing repentances, chanting, and with focused mind praying to the Wondrous Virtue for unseen assistance. He abstained from grain and drank only water for nearly three weeks (twenty-one days). Although his physical energy grew faint, his sincere resolve became ever firmer. Suddenly, he was miraculously blessed: his hair and temples fully grew back, his masculine form was restored, his spiritual acuity was transcendent, and he penetrated these profound purports. Thereupon he pondered deeply and studied with refined devotion, then composing the aforementioned treatise. Weaving together its entire scope, he returned and presented it in a memorial to the throne. Emperor Gaozu, whose faith and reverence had always been deep, increased them beyond ordinary measure, and from this the Avataṃsaka Sūtra flourished all the more.