三寶感應要略錄 3.37

3.37

When Dharma Master Xuanzang arrived in the country of Magadha and entered the monastery without satiety for the world, he met Śīlabhadra, whom the assembly called the Treasury of the True Dharma. Śīlabhadra instructed Dharma Master Bodhibhadra, saying: 'You may explain to the assembly the karmic cause of the illness that afflicted me three years ago.' Hearing this, Bodhibhadra wept and wiped his tears, and recounted the past causes, saying: 'Our Upādhyāya previously suffered from wind disease. Every time it broke out, his hands and feet were in extreme pain and distress, as if burned by fire or pierced by knives. The pain erupted and subsided by turns for altogether more than twenty years. Three years ago, the suffering became especially severe. Loathing this body, he wished to stop eating and end his life. In the night, he dreamed of three heavenly beings: one golden in color, the second the color of lapis lazuli, and the third the color of white silver. Their features were upright, and their eyes light and bright. They came and asked the Upādhyāya: 'Do you wish to abandon this body? A sūtra says: 'Even if the body experiences suffering, one must not loathe and abandon the body.' In a past life you were once a king, and caused much distress to sentient beings; hence you have incurred this retribution. You should now contemplate your past transgressions, repent with utmost sincerity, bear suffering patiently, and diligently propagate the sūtras and treatises; then it will naturally dissolve away. Merely loathing the body will never bring an end to your suffering.' The Upādhyāya, having heard this, bowed with utmost sincerity. The golden person pointed to the green-blue person and said to the Upādhyāya: 'Do you recognize him? This is the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara.' Pointing to the silver person, he said: 'This is the Bodhisattva Maitreya.' The Upādhyāya immediately bowed to Maitreya and asked: 'Śīlabhadra has always vowed to be born in your presence; I wonder if I can achieve it?' He replied: 'After you widely propagate the True Dharma, you shall be born there.' The golden one said of himself: 'I am the Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī. Seeing that you wished in vain to abandon your body without benefiting others, we have come to exhort you. You should follow my words and propagate the True Dharma, the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra and so on, so that it reaches those who have not yet heard it. Your body will gradually find peace; do not worry that it will not heal. There is a monk from China who delights in comprehending the Great Dharma and wishes to learn from you. You may transmit it to him.' Having spoken, they disappeared. From that time on, the Upādhyāya's illness was cured. Those among the monastic assembly who heard of this all praised it as extraordinary. Xuanzang truly matched this holy prophecy.'