文殊教誡
Instructions from Manjushri
唐大曆間。法照法師因禮五臺。文殊為現大聖竹林寺。照入講堂。見文殊在西。普賢在東。萬菩薩眾圍繞說法。照作禮請問。末代眾生智識淺陋。佛性心地無由顯現。未審修何法門。最為其要。文殊曰。汝所請問。今正是時。諸修行門無如念佛。我於過去。因念佛故。得一切種智。照又問曰。當云何念。文殊曰。此世界西有阿彌陀佛。願力難思。汝當繫念。無令間斷。命終決定往生。說已為照摩頂。照聞喜躍。在處大興念佛法門。德宗勑迎入內。教宮人念佛。法道大振。
During the Tang Dynasty, in the Dali era, Dharma Master Fazhao was on a pilgrimage to Mount Wutai. Manjushri Bodhisattva manifested the Great Sage Bamboo Forest Monastery before him. As Fazhao entered the lecture hall, he saw Manjushri seated in the west and Samantabhadra in the east, with countless bodhisattvas surrounding them, expounding the Dharma. Fazhao made prostrations and asked, "In these latter days, sentient beings have shallow wisdom and limited understanding. The Buddha-nature within their minds has no way to manifest. I humbly ask, which practice is the most essential?"
Manjushri replied, "Your question comes at exactly the right time. Among all paths of practice, none surpasses mindful recitation of the Buddha's name. In the past, through this very practice, I attained all-encompassing wisdom."
Fazhao then asked, "How should one practice this recitation?"
Manjushri answered, "In the western direction of this world lies Amitabha Buddha, whose vow-power is inconceivable. You should focus your mind on Him without interruption. At the end of your life, you will surely be reborn in His Pure Land."
Having spoken, Manjushri rubbed the crown of Fazhao's head. Overjoyed by what he had heard, Fazhao went on to widely promote the practice of reciting the Buddha's name wherever he went. Emperor Dezong later summoned him to the palace, where he taught the practice to the court ladies, and the Dharma flourished greatly.