日本親鸞上人九歲時，要求慈圓禪師為他剃度。禪師問：「你還這麼小，為什麼要出家呢？」親鸞：「我雖小，父母卻已雙亡，我不知道為什麼人會死亡？為什麼一定要和父母分離？為了探索這道理，我一定要出家。」禪師：「好！我收你為徒，但今天太晚了，待明日一早，再為你剃度吧！」
親鸞：「師父！我年幼無知，不能保證自己出家的決心是否可以持續到明天，而您那麼高年，也不能保證明早是否還活著。」禪師：「對！你說得沒錯，我馬上為你剃度。」 中國唐代玄奘大師，十二歲出家，當時出家為僧須經考試及格，其時玄奘年幼，未能錄取，他傷心痛哭。主考官鄭善果問玄奘為何一定要出家？他答：「光大如來遺教，紹隆菩提佛種！」因其志願宏偉，特准出家。中日兩位聖者相輝映，亦佛教之美談也。

When Master Shinran of Japan was nine, he asked Zen Master Jienn to tonsure him. Master Jienn asked, “Why do you want to be a monk?” Shinran replied, “I would like to learn why people die, and why I am separated from my deceased parents.”
“Wonderful!” said Master Jienn. “You will be my disciple. But wait until tomorrow, it’s late now.” Shinran countered, “Master! I am young and ignorant, and not sure how long my resolve will last. Besides, you are old, and may not be alive tomorrow.” Master Jienn said, “That is certainly true. I will tonsure you at once!”
When Venerable Master Xuanzang sought to become a monk, the head examiner, Zheng Shanguo, informed him he was too young for the exam that was required during the Tang Dynasty. “But why do you wish to be a monk?” he asked. In tears, the boy replied, “To bring glory to the teachings of the Tathagata and to propagate the Bodhi seeds of the Buddha.” Such great aspiration earned him special dispensation to be a monk at age twelve.
These two sages of China and Japan, each reflecting the other, shine across the ages and inspire Buddhists to this day.

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