Chapter 8: I Buddha Creates Scriptures to Transmit Ultimate Bliss Guanyin Sent on Imperial Order to Chang'an

**The Song of Su Wu Man**

Ask about the Zen gate, countless times have I sought, yet often grown old in vain. Grinding bricks to make a mirror, piling snow for food—how many youthful years were lost in delusion? A single hair swallowing the ocean, a mustard seed containing Mount Sumeru: the golden mendicant smiles. Enlightened, one transcends the ten stages and three vehicles; deluded, one remains stuck in the four births and six paths. Who hears, before the Cliff of Utter Detachment, beneath the Shadowless Tree, the cuckoo's cry at dawn, signaling spring? The path to Cao Creek is perilous, Vulture Peak's clouds are deep, and the voice of an old friend is lost here. A thousand-zhang ice cliff, a five-petaled lotus blooms, and curtains in an ancient hall emit fragrant smoke. At that moment, discerning the origin, one sees the Dragon King's Three Jewels.

This piece is titled "Su Wu Man." It tells how the Tathagata Buddha, having bid farewell to the Jade Emperor, returned to the Great Thunderclap Monastery. There, he beheld three thousand Buddhas, five hundred Arhats, eight Great Vajras, and countless Bodhisattvas, each holding banners, jeweled canopies, wondrous treasures, and celestial flowers, arrayed in the spiritual mountain's immortal realm, beneath the twin Sala trees, ready to receive him.

The Tathagata stopped his auspicious cloud and addressed the assembly: "With profound Prajna wisdom, I have surveyed the three realms. The fundamental nature and origin are, in the end, tranquil and extinguished. Like the void, there is nothing. I have suppressed the mischievous monkey, who knew nothing of these matters, marking the beginning of birth and death; such is the Dharma."

Having spoken, he emitted a relic light. Forty-two white rainbows filled the sky, extending from north to south. When the assembly saw this, they prostrated themselves in worship. A short while later, auspicious clouds and colorful mists gathered, and he ascended the high-grade lotus throne and sat down serenely.

The three thousand Buddhas, five hundred Arhats, eight Vajras, and four Bodhisattvas, with palms joined, bowed and approached, asking, "Who was it that caused chaos in the Heavenly Palace and disturbed the Peach Banquet?"

The Tathagata said, "That fellow is a demon monkey from Flower-Fruit Mountain, whose crimes are monstrous and indescribable. None of the heavenly generals could subdue him. Although Erlang captured him and Lord Laozi tempered him with fire, he remained unharmed. When I arrived, he was in the midst of the thunder generals, flaunting his power and might, showing off his prowess. I stopped the fighting and asked him his origin. He claimed to possess great supernatural powers, could transform, and could travel one hundred and eight thousand li with a single somersault cloud. I made a wager with him that he could not escape my palm. I then seized him, transformed him with a gesture into the Five Elements Mountain, and sealed him there. The Jade Emperor then opened the Golden Palace and Jade Hall, invited me to sit at the head of the banquet, and held the 'Heaven-Pacifying Grand Assembly' to thank me. Only then did I take my leave and return."

The assembly listened with joy, praising him profusely. After expressing their gratitude, they dispersed to their respective positions, attending to their duties, all enjoying the heavenly purity. Truly, it was—

Auspicious mists filling the Pure Land, rainbow light embracing the World-Honored One. The West is hailed as supreme, the gate of the formless Dharma King. One often sees black apes offering fruit, elks carrying flowers; green luan birds dancing, colorful phoenixes singing; divine tortoises bringing longevity, immortal cranes holding lingzhi. They serenely enjoy the Pure Land and Jetavana, and partake of the Dragon Palace's Dharma Realm. Flowers bloom daily, fruits ripen constantly. They practice tranquility to return to truth, and meditate to achieve enlightenment. Neither perishing nor arising, neither increasing nor decreasing. Mists and clouds float by, unaffected by cold or heat, unmindful of years.

A poem says:

Coming and going freely, at ease,Without fear or sorrow.All are open and vast in the Realm of Ultimate Bliss,Without seasons in the Great Thousand World.

The Buddha-Patriarch resided in the Great Thunderclap Monastery on Spirit Mountain. One day, he summoned all the Buddhas, Arhats, Gatis, Bodhisattvas, Vajras, Bhikkhus, and Bhikkhunis, saying, "Since subduing the unruly ape and pacifying Heaven, I have been unaware of the passage of time here, but I estimate half a millennium has passed in the mortal realm. Today, it is the full moon of the first month of autumn. I have a precious basin, within which are arranged a hundred varieties of wondrous flowers, a thousand kinds of rare fruits, and other items, for you all to enjoy this Ullambana Festival. What do you say?"

The assembly, one by one, joined their palms, bowed to the Buddha three times, and understood. The Tathagata then instructed Ananda to hold the precious basin's flowers, fruits, and other items, and Mahakasyapa to distribute them. The assembly was grateful and each offered a poem to express their thanks.

The Fortune Poem says:

The star of fortune shines before the World-Honored One,Fortune's acceptance is deep and enduring.Boundless merit lasts as long as the earth,Auspicious karmic affinity connects with heaven.

The field of fortune is widely sown, prospering year after year;The ocean of fortune is vast and deep, strong year after year.Fortune fills the universe with many blessings,Immeasurable fortune increases, perfect forever.

The Prosperity Poem says:

Prosperity is heavy as a mountain, colorful phoenixes sing;Prosperity changes with the times, wishing for longevity.Prosperity adds ten thousand measures, granting health;Prosperity enjoys a thousand cups, bringing peace to the world.

Prosperity's stipend equals heaven, enduring forever;Prosperity's fame is like the ocean, ever clearer.Prosperity's grace extends far, widely admired;Prosperity's rank is boundless, glorifying all nations.

The Longevity Poem says:

The Star of Longevity presents splendor to the Tathagata,The realm of longevity opens from this moment.Longevity fruits fill the platter, giving rise to auspicious mists;Freshly picked longevity flowers adorn the lotus throne.

The longevity poem is elegant and wondrous,The longevity melody is harmonized with fine talent.Life span extends like the sun and moon,Longevity is like mountains and seas, ever vast.

After the Bodhisattvas finished their offerings, they requested the Tathagata to clearly explain the root and elucidate the origin. The Tathagata subtly opened his benevolent mouth, expounded the Great Dharma, proclaimed the true fruit, speaking of the wondrous scriptures of the Three Vehicles and the