Hall of Sudhana
善財寶殿
The Hall of Sudhana is a multifunctional hall named after a giant relief sculpture. The lifelike figures depicted in this huge sculpture number fifty-three in total. There is also a fascinating story behind it.
The Pilgrimage in Pursuit of Enlightenment Guided by 53 Mentors depict the entire process of a practitioner attaining Buddhahood. The practitioner in this story is none other than the attendant of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, Sudhana Boy.
According to the Avatamsaka Sutra, Sudhana Boy made extensive offerings to past Buddhas, cultivating profound virtues and always rejoicing in purity. He accumulated immense merit and blessings. Sudhana Boy was born in the city of Awakening in India, and at the time of his birth, seven great treasures naturally appeared in his household. Additionally, at the moment of his birth, five hundred precious vessels materialized, leading his parents to name him "Sudhana."
As Sudhana grew up, he was influenced by the teachings and inspiration of Manjushri Bodhisattva. Sudhana embarked on a challenging journey to seek the Dharma. He tirelessly traveled southward, visiting various virtuous individuals. His visits included Bodhisattvas, monks, nuns, Upasakas, Upasikas, etc., totaling fifty-three virtuous individuals. This is the famous "Pilgrimage in Pursuit of Enlightenment Guided by 53 Mentors".
Sudhana's journey of visits and study exemplifies the path to Buddhahood. It teaches us the importance of perseverance and an open-minded approach to learning Buddhism in a humble way.
The Pilgrimage in Pursuit of Enlightenment Guided by 53 Mentors is a representative work of Mahayana Buddhism. Like every practitioner, Sudhana's heart was childlike. During his spiritual journey, he approached, observed, contemplated, and made choices in relation to each accomplished individual. He chose to learn from their virtues and kept his distance from their flaws.
Among his 53 mentors, the twenty-seventh was Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, who cared deeply for him. After acquiring the Dharma, Sudhana returned to the side of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva and assisted in the Bodhisattva's compassionate mission to guide sentient beings.
This is the story of the Hall of Sudhana and the Pilgrimage in Pursuit of Enlightenment Guided by 53 Mentors at Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden.
善財寶殿是一個多功能廳，它因為一幅巨幅浮雕而得名。整個五十三參浮雕作品長26.2公尺（合86英尺），高6.4公尺 （合21英尺），供奉於五台山大殿一樓多功能廳，是一幅巨型雕工精美的藝術大作。這幅巨雕上面的人物栩栩如生，一共有53位。其中53個人物的立體雕像都是獨立的立像，每個人物雕像約1.08公尺。這裡面還有一個非常有趣的故事。
五十三參講述了一位修行者成佛的整個參學過程。這位修行者就是觀音菩薩的左脅侍－善財童子。
觀音菩薩有兩位侍者：一位是善財童子，一位是龍女。善財童子是《華嚴經入法界品》裡的主要人物。據《華嚴經》記載，善財童子在過去諸佛處，廣修供養。深種善根而常樂清淨，並且喜歡親近善知識，修習菩薩行，因而積聚了大量的福德因緣。善財童子生於印度覺城，因前生福報，初住母胎之時，家中自然顯現七大寶藏。出生之時，又有五百寶器出現，父母請人為他取名叫「善財」。
善財長大時，文殊菩薩正在覺城弘法。由於受到文殊菩薩的教導與啟發，善財歷盡艱辛，南下求法，歷訪各處的善知識。所參訪的對象，有菩薩、比丘、比丘尼、優婆塞、優婆夷、童子、童女、天女、婆羅門、國王、王妃、仙人、醫師等，共計有五十三位善知識。這就是著名的「五十三參」。
善財童子的參訪修學之路為佛教徒展示了一條通往成佛的途徑，由淺入深，由低到高，循序漸進，不可投機取巧。它啟示人們在學佛的歷程裡，要有吃苦耐勞的毅力和鑼而不捨的精神。虛心學習佛法，所學的對像不必固定為一師一處，甚至只要他有長處，即使是外道，也不妨虛心向他求教。這是一種開放、寬廣的求學胸懷，值得後人效法。因此，善財童子是學習佛法、實踐佛法的榜樣。
善財童子五十三參是大乘佛教的代表之作。善財童子就像每一個修行的人，他的內心猶如孩童，在自己修行的旅程上，向每一位成就者都親近、觀察、思維、抉擇，擇其善者而從，於其不善者遠離。
其中參拜第二十七位名師是觀音菩薩，觀音菩薩對他十分關心。善財得到佛法後，便回到觀音菩薩身邊，協助觀音菩薩教化眾生。
這就是五台山善財寶殿和五十三參的故事。
