三寶感應要略錄 3.25

3.25

In the country of Uḍḍiyāna in North India (also called Fengzhang), in the Darel Valley, there is a vihāra with a carved wooden image of Maitreya, golden in colour, whose miraculous powers secretly penetrate; it is over ten zhang tall. After the Buddha passed into extinction, it was crafted by the great arhat Madhyāntika. The Venerable One had this thought: 'The Great Master Śākyamuni entrusted his deceased disciples to be delivered in the three assemblies of Maitreya in the far future; most are those who uttered "Namo" once or gave a single ball of food under Śākyamuni's bequeathed Dharma. The Bodhisattva was reborn above in Tuṣita; by what shall sentient beings see his true form? I only fear that in making an image, it will not resemble his wonderful body.' He then used his supernormal powers to lead and conduct craftsmen up to the Tuṣita Heaven, seeing his true face three times, after which he completed the work of crafting it. While in heaven, Maitreya told Madhyāntika: 'With my divine eye, I observe the three-thousand-great-thousandfold world; if there are those who make my image therein, I secretly dispatch blue-clad youths to unseenly assist their work. That person will definitely not fall into the evil paths. When I become a Buddha, their image will serve as a guide to come to my presence. At that time I will praise them: "Excellent, you sentient beings! In the True, Semblance, and Final Dharma of Śākyamuni, my resembling image led you to come to my presence."' At that time the image rose into empty space, emitted light, and spoke verses; those who heard wept and attained the fruits of the three vehicles' paths. Madhyāntika reverently received these instructions, and the work was then accomplished. Since then, the Dharma of the Buddha and the Dharma of the Saṅgha flowed to the eastern land.