釋氏要覽 3.31

3.31

梁僧旻法師。講次謂眾曰。昔彌天道安每講。於定座後。常使都講。為含靈轉經。此事久廢。既是前修。欲屈大眾。各誦觀音經一卷。於是闔座忻然。遠近相習耳。今亦念佛是也。

Dharma Master Sengmin of the Liang said to the assembly during a lecture: ‘In the past, whenever Dao’an, who spanned the heavens, lectured, after taking his seat he would always have the dujiang chant the sūtra for sentient beings. This practice has long fallen into disuse. Since it was done by former worthies, I would trouble the great assembly to each recite one roll of the Avalokiteśvara Sūtra.’ Thereupon the whole hall was delighted, and both near and far followed the custom. Today’s recitation of the Buddha’s name is also of this type.”