Sudhana

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Sudhana (Ch: 善財, shàncái, translated as Good Wealth), best known as Shan Tsai in Chinese, is the main protagonist in the next-to-last and longest chapter of the Avatamsaka Sutra, and is also one of the acolytes of Avalokitesvara (Guan Yin) Bodhisattva. Seeking enlightenment, he visited and studied with fifty-three spiritual advisors and became the equal of the Buddhas in one lifetime. Both his first advisor and his last advisor (Samantabhadra) taught him the Pure Land path.

Legend has it that Sudhana was a disabled boy from India who was very interested in studying the Buddhist teachings. When he heard that there was a Buddhist teacher on the rocky island of Putuo he quickly journeyed there to learn. Upon arriving the island, he managed to find Bodhisattva Guan Yin, despite his severe disability.

Guan Yin, after having a discussion with Sudhana, decided to test Sudhana resolve to fully study the Buddhist teachings. She conjured the illusion of three sword wielding pirates running up the hill to attack her. Guan Yin took off and dashed off to the edge of a cliff, the three illusions still chasing her.

Sudhana, seeing that his teacher was in danger hobbled uphill. Guan Yin at the time jumped over the edge of the cliff, and soon after the three bandits followed. Sudhana, still wanting to save the teacher managed to crawl his way over the cliff edge.

Sudhana fell down the cliff but was halted in midair by Guan Yin, who now asked him to walk. Sudhana found that he could walk normally and that he was no longer crippled. When he looked into a pool of water he also discovered that he now had a very handsome face. From that day forth Guan Yin taught Shan Tsai the entire Buddha Dharma.