經律異相 12.12

12.12

The monk Mahālu: the king of the country, believing that he frequently read the Mahāyāna, always untied his hair to let him step across it. There was another monk who said to the king, 'This Mahālu does not read the sūtras often; why do you make such offerings to him?' The king said, 'Day and night, I wish to see this monk.' He then went and saw him reading the Lotus Sūtra in a cave. He saw a person of golden radiance riding a white elephant, with hands joined in offering. As the king approached closer, the figure disappeared and was no longer seen. He then asked, 'Venerable One, why did the person of golden radiance disappear when I came?' The monk said, 'That was the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra (who is Samantabhadra in the Lotus Sūtra) coming to teach and guide me in reciting this sūtra.' (Extracted from the ninth fascicle of the Dazhidu lun.)