第 12 回

Emperor Taizong of Tang wanted to hold a grand assembly to pray for the dead.

He ordered someone to find a good monk to preside over it.

A young monk named Xuanzang was selected.

Before the assembly began, Xuanzang lectured on Buddhist scriptures to many monks outside Chang'an city.

Emperor Taizong of Tang also came.

At this time, Guanyin Bodhisattva in the Western Paradise learned about this matter.

She remembered that she had previously handed an infant to a monk to raise.

That infant was Xuanzang.

Now Xuanzang has grown up.

Therefore, the Bodhisattva, accompanied by her disciple, transformed into two wandering monks and came to Chang'an city.

They held in their hands the kasaya and staff given by Tathagata Buddha.

The Bodhisattva encountered Prime Minister Xiao Yu outside the imperial palace.

Xiao Yu saw that the kasaya could emit light and knew it was a good thing.

He asked: "Is this for sale?"

The Bodhisattva said: "Not for money."

If I meet a good monk, I will give it to him.

Xiao Yu was very happy, and he thought of Xuanzang.

He took the Bodhisattva to see Emperor Taizong of Tang.

Emperor Taizong of Tang saw the treasure and wanted to buy it to give to Xuanzang.

But the Bodhisattva did not want money and directly gave it away.

Xuanzang put on the kasaya, held the tin staff, and looked very good.

On the day of the great assembly, Xuanzang was on the stage preaching the Buddhist teachings.

Suddenly, two monks in the crowd said loudly: "What you are preaching is the Hinayana Buddhism, which cannot help the dead."

Can you preach the Mahayana Buddhism?

The officers and soldiers caught them and brought them before Emperor Taizong of Tang.

Taizong asked: "Why are you making noise?"

The monk transformed by the Bodhisattva said: "Your Majesty, that master is preaching the Hinayana Buddhism."

The Tathagata Buddha has the Mahayana Buddhism there, which can help the dead and save people from suffering.

Taizong asked: "Where is the Mahayana Buddhism?"

The Bodhisattva said: "It is in the Western Paradise, at the place of the Tathagata Buddha."

After finishing speaking, the Bodhisattva and disciple revealed their true forms, clouds rose under their feet, and they flew up to the sky.

Only then did everyone know it was Guanyin Bodhisattva, and they all knelt down and burned incense.

The Bodhisattva left.

Emperor Taizong of Tang said to the ministers: "We need to send someone to the Western Heaven to retrieve the Mahayana true scriptures."

At this moment, Xuanzang stepped forward and said: "I am willing to go to the Western Heaven to retrieve the scriptures."

Emperor Taizong of Tang was very happy.

He stepped down from his seat, took Xuanzang's hand, and became sworn brothers with him.

Because he was going to retrieve the Tripitaka true scriptures, Taizong called Xuanzang Tripitaka Master.

Taizong selected an auspicious day, prepared things for Tang Monk, and also assigned two attendants.

On the day of departure, Taizong and the officials saw Tang Monk off to outside the city of Chang'an.

The two people said goodbye with tears in their eyes.

Tang Seng mounted his horse, took his attendants, and headed west.