法苑珠林 16.5

16.5

Reflecting upon the Greatly Awakened Hero of the World, who benefited beings according to their capacities, he skillfully set forth teachings displaying provisional means to rescue the emergencies of future times. Living in the Latter Age, life is like a candle in the wind; when pursuing what is most essential to benefit beings, nothing surpasses seeing the Buddha. By the bequeathed charge of the Śākya Honoured One, those who cultivate practice within my Dharma are all entrusted to the Benevolent One to awaken to the holy fruit. The Great Sage's earnest intent is in principle truly not in vain; with a single thought of encountering him, one forever cuts off the four torrents. Binding wonderful vows in the Flower Grove and evoking the benevolent countenance in Tuṣita, if one can strike upon the hidden mechanism, dragon and cloud shall meet. Therefore, the Shangsheng jing says: 'All these persons have planted wholesome roots in the Dharma; Śākyamuni Buddha has sent and entrusted them to me.' Observing this single phrase, it can indeed be relied upon. It was only toward the end of the Jin dynasty that this sūtra first circulated, and by the time of Emperor Ming of Song, these assemblies were first inaugurated: raising a thousand-foot revered statue, depicting a ten-thousand-fathom Bodhi tree, setting out offerings in the Shanglin Garden, and gathering the multitudes like fish scales. Thereupon the fourfold assembly leaped for joy, reverently propagating the transformation; on every auspicious day of the year, the three assemblies were never missed. From the time the Qi dynasty assumed governance, the conditions for the Dharma expanded; the virtuous teachings of Emperor Wenxuan comprehensively wove this endeavor. From that time onward, however, great assemblies have rarely gathered, and practitioners have become scarce; even when there are those who study, they lack the method to settle their minds. Now I record various sūtras to practice in reliance upon them, hoping that mastery of the eightfold correct path will spread like fragrance in the purple palace, and that the spread of the ten wholesome actions will shine brightly in Tuṣita, so that the merit will extend to his descent, and the grace will be shared equally in the first assembly.