三寶感應要略錄 3.19

3.19

Dharma Master Kuichong was a native of Jiaozhou. With the ambition of reaching India, he made a vow to craft an image of Samantabhadra and prayed, saying: 'Great Being Samantabhadra has the vow to constantly accord with sentient beings; how could you abandon the sincere aspiration of this poor monk?' He was further moved to a dream: Samantabhadra rode a white elephant, stroked Chong's crown, and said, 'You have a sincere aspiration and are going to India. If you meet with hindrance or delay, I will certainly rescue you.' Awakening from the dream with joy, he boarded the same ship as Mingyuan to sail the Southern Sea. Suddenly they met with a violent wind and were about to fall into the land of rākṣasas. Chong single-mindedly concentrated on Samantabhadra, and the image appeared upon the ship; the wind calmed, and they headed toward the Lion Country (Śrī Laṅkā). Furthermore, they encountered the peril of a makara fish. Chong single-mindedly concentrated on Samantabhadra, and the image appeared upon the ship; the great fish closed its mouth and departed. Escaping peril, they reached the Lion Country. Continuing onward toward West India, he met Dharma Master Xuanzhao, and together they requested to go to Central India to pay homage to the Bodhi Tree. Further reaching the Bamboo Grove (Veṇuvana), he contracted a slight illness. As if in a dream, he saw Samantabhadra, who said, 'Relying on holy power, your original vow is fulfilled, and you have attained purity of the six faculties; let no regret arise.' Having written down his testamentary letter, he passed away, and so on.