Stories about Venerable Dushun
When Master Dushun, the first Patriarch of Huayen (Avatamsaka) was about 84 years old, a young monk, Zhichong, came to him and asked for a period of leave from the monastery, saying, “I would like to make a pilgrimage to Mount Wutai to pay respects to Manjushri Bodhisattva.”
The teacher agreed to his request and said with a smile:
“The wanderer toils far and long,
Paying respect to the dirt slopes of Mount Wutai
Manjushri has always been present
What use is there to ask Amitabha?”
Zhichong paid little heed to these words and left for Mount Wutai. When he was about to arrive there after much travail, he asked an old man for directions, “I am going to Mount Wutai to worship Manjushri, could you give me the directions?”
The old man exclaimed, “Manjushri is not on Mount Wutai, what is the use of going there?”
“Where is Manjushri now?”
“He is now at Chang-An teaching sentient beings.”
Zhichong recollected his teacher’s words and got a rude shock when he realised its meaning. He hurriedly turned back to his monastery, but was delayed for three days by a river flooding. By the time he reached Yishan Monastery, his teacher had already entered parinirvana.
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| Master Dushun |
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Without cause, there is no result
Master Dushun had a new pair of shoes. He told someone, “I have never stolen even as little as a stalk of grass, a needle or a thread from anyone in countless aeons. Due to that, no one will steal my belongings. If you do not believe me, I will place this pair of new shoes at the city gate. If anyone takes it within three days, it will prove that I am lying.” Three days later, the new shoes still remained untouched at the city gates which had many people, rich and poor, passing by. This proved that the Master’s upholding of precepts was lofty and impeccable.
