Master Xuanhua: He is 2.74 meters tall, has forty teeth, and was the national advisor to seven emperors. Who is he?

Master Xuanhua's Zhengfa Collection

The incarnation of Huayan Bodhisattva - Qingliang Guoshi Master Chengguan

Master Xuanhua’s compassionate teachings:

Today is a very important day.

Why is it called an important day? Because this is the first day when the "Dafang Guangfo Huayan Sutra" begins to be taught. In other countries there may be people who teach this sutra ； But in Western countries, I believe this is the first time. Because it is the first time, it is worthy of our commemoration, so it is very important.

Originally, in the Avatamsaka Sutra, we should first talk about the name of the sutra, but now we will talk about the preface of the sutra first. Because this preface covers all the principles of the Avatamsaka Sutra. After explaining this preface first, you will understand the general meaning of the Avatamsaka Sutra.

Who wrote this preface?

It was made by Master Chengguan of Huayan Bodhisattva. Before I talk about the preface, let me first talk about the mage who wrote the preface.

This mage is nine feet tall (approximately 274 centimeters) and has double pupils in his eyes. Double pupils are two pupils, which are two eyes, that is, two eyeballs. During the day, he didn't look like much, just like ordinary people. But at night, when you looked at his eyes, there was a kind of light shining out of them.

His hands were above his knees and very long. Please note that anyone whose hands are longer than the knees is considered a noble person. This is a peculiar appearance.

He has forty teeth, while we ordinary people only have thirty-two, thirty-four, or thirty-six or thirty-eight teeth. The Buddha has forty teeth, so the master's teeth are the same color as the Buddha's.

He reads very quickly and can read all seven lines. He can read seven lines in the time it takes us to read one line. This mage is really extremely smart.

Why is he said to be Huayan Bodhisattva?

He wrote a "Huayan Shuchao", specializing in "Huayan Sutra".

After he passed away, an Arhat saw two very young Bodhisattvas walking in the void at the border of China and India. This Arhat had supernatural powers, so he used his supernatural powers to stop the two boys in green clothes - the young Bodhisattvas - from leaving, and asked them what they were doing in China. These two people said that they went to Mount Wutai in China to ask for the teeth of Huayan Bodhisattva and returned to our land to offer them.

When the Arhat heard this, he said that he could let you go. This Arhat later went to Mount Wutai and told ordinary people about the realm he had seen. At this time, people opened the coffin of Master Qingliang and found that two teeth were missing. These two teeth were invited by the two young Bodhisattvas to support him.

Therefore, in Buddhism, most people know that Master Cheng Guan is the incarnation of Huayan Bodhisattva.

The realm of this great Bodhisattva, Qingliang Imperial Master, is really incredible. He lived through nine emperors and served as the Imperial Advisor to seven emperors.

Why can he do this?

Because he is very serious in his practice and is not sloppy in the slightest. He is not like ordinary people who talk about practice but do not practice it in body. They are duplicitous in their words. What they say is right but in their heart they are completely wrong.

After he became a monk, and before he became a monk, he made a vow to encourage himself with ten things - to encourage himself with ten things. These ten things are very important and every monk should know these ten things.

（1) The body does not give up the form of a Samana.

（2) The mind does not violate Tathagata’s rules.

（3) Failure to memorize the Dharma Realm Sutra.

（4) Sexuality is not contaminated by emotions.

（5) Don’t walk in the dust of a nun.

（6) The body should not touch the layman’s bed.

（7) Turning one’s eyes away from the ungodly fate.

（8) The mouth does not taste the food that is eaten at noon.

（9) Don’t let go of the Pearl of Yuanming.

（10) Stay close to your mantle.

Let me briefly explain these ten types to you:

（1) The expression of not donating one’s body to the Samanas:

His body is always dressed in robes and clothes, and he is very solemn, like a monk. Watch, that's what it looks like.

（2) The mind does not violate Tathagata’s rules:

His heart will definitely abide by all the rules and precepts spoken by the Buddha and will never violate them.

（3) Failure to memorize the Dharma Realm Sutra:

Wherever there is the Avatamsaka Sutra, he must sit facing the Avatamsaka Sutra and never sit with his back to the Avatamsaka Sutra. With his kind of vow, not only to the Buddha, but also to the sutras, he would not sit with his back on his back.

（4) The state of being free from sexual contamination and emotional obstruction:

This obstacle is the obstacle of obstacles, not the love of love. He is uncontaminated by the obstacle state of love. To be undefiled means not to live in this way.

（5) Not walking in the dust of a nun:

This wish seemed unfair and the bhikshuni would be very unhappy, but he still made the wish as usual.

What to say?

He does not walk in the dust of the monastery, and his feet do not step on the soil at the entrance of the monastery. Not only did he not go inside the monastery, he even didn't step on the dust at the door.

Therefore, he never went to a bhikshuni temple in his life, so many bhikshuni did not get close to him. Westerners may think this is mental illness, so what's wrong with going to a bhikshuni's temple? I make hundreds of trips a day and there is nothing wrong with it.

This Qingliang Guoshi is too cool, too cool, with no enthusiasm or emotion at all, so he can make this cool wish.

（6) Not touching the layman’s couch:

Don't talk about staying at a family member's place. He won't even touch the bed of a householder.

（7) The reason for turning one’s eyes away from one’s eyes:

He will not look at anything that is not in line with the dignity or etiquette. He didn't even look at the drama, singing or dancing, or anything weird happening on the street.

（8) The taste of noon dishes is unpalatable:

After noon, he didn't say anything about eating, and he didn't even try to taste it. You see, if the eminent monk can’t let it go, he shouldn’t become a monk. Dishes refer to vegetables and rice, and delicacies include fruits and other things to eat.

You have to be very strict in practicing and keeping the precepts. If you really want to practice, you can’t even eat fruit.； Also, I don’t drink syrup after noon, and I don’t drink milk and other syrups either.

（9) Hold on to the Pearl of Yuanming:

He always held rosary beads in his hand and recited the Buddha's name constantly.

（10) Stay on the side of the mantle:

When he sleeps, he always puts his mantle next to him to protect his mantle.

The above are the conditions he established himself.

That's why he was able to go through nine emperors, and seven emperors worshiped him as their master.

Who are these nine emperors?

It belongs to the Tang Dynasty: (1) Tang Xuanzong； (2) Suzong of Tang Dynasty ； (3) Tang Daizong ； (4) Tang Dezong ； (5) Tang Shunzong ； (6) Emperor Jizong of Tang Dynasty ； (7) Tang Muzong ； (8) Tang Jingzong ； (9) Tang Wenzong. From Emperor Daizong onwards, they all worshiped the Qingliang Imperial Preceptor as the Imperial Preceptor.

Why is he called Qingliang Guoshi?

At that time, he lived in Wutai Mountain, also called Qingliang Mountain.

He gave the explanation to the emperor, and the emperor said: "Ah! You have really refreshed me. I feel really comfortable and refreshed now. ”Therefore, from now on, he will not be called Master Chengguan, but Master Qingliang, also known as Professor Monk. He is the emperor's professor monk and often lectures on scriptures to the emperor.

Look, a man passed by nine emperors, and all seven of them worshiped him as their master. If he had no morals, how could he have such a feeling? He is very knowledgeable and has read many books, including Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. He also studied the "Book of Changes" very well.

This preface is written by Huayan Bodhisattva. It is of course the best, so before I talk about the Huayan Sutra, I will talk about it first.

Qingliang Guoshi is the incarnation of Huayan Bodhisattva. He specializes in teaching the Huayan Sutra. The Qingliang Imperial Master's name was Chengguan, whose courtesy name was Daxiu. He was from Kuaiji and his common surname was Xiahou. He was born in the Wuyin year of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. He is nine feet four inches long, has his hands above his knees, has forty teeth, and his eyes shine at night.

In the fourth year of Jianzhong's reign, he wrote "Hua Yan Shu Chao". This book is the most famous of the Huayan Sutra commentaries.

Before writing, he first asked Huayan Haihui Bodhisattva to bless him and help him complete his mission. That night I dreamed of a huge mountain, with thousands of feet of golden clouds. The light exceeded the whiteness and reached the ground. Only then did I realize that this meant that the light was shining all over the place. After that, I started writing notes on "Huayan Shuchao" without thinking, and completed it in four years.

Later, I dreamed that I turned into a golden dragon, and then turned into thousands of countless dragons, flying to other worlds. This is the Huayan realm, and most people say it means circulation.

------A brief introduction to the Preface to the "Dafang Guangfo Huayan Sutra"