A Legend of Fugen-Bosatsu

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THERE was once a very pious and learned priest, called Shōku Shōnin, who lived in the province of Harima. For many years he meditated daily upon the chapter of Fugen-Bosatsu [the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra] in the Sûtra of the Lotos of the Good LawA major Buddhist scripture; and he used to pray, every morning and evening, that he might at some time be permitted to behold Fugen-Bosatsu as a living presence, and in the form described in the holy text.¹

¹ The priest’s desire was probably inspired by the promises recorded in the chapter entitled “The Encouragement of Samantabhadra” (see Kern’s translation of the Saddharma PundarîkaSanskrit title of the Lotus Sutra in the Sacred Books of the East—pp. 433–434):

“Then the Bodhisattva Mahâsattva Samantabhadra said to the Lord: ... ‘When a preacher who applies himself to this DharmaparyâyaA Buddhist teaching or doctrine shall take a walk, then, O Lord, will I mount a white elephant with six tusks, and betake myself to the place where that preacher is walking, in order to protect this Dharmaparyâya. And