Masters and Disciples Against the Tide

It is said that the cycles of heaven and earth span 129,600 years, making one Great Cycle. Each Great Cycle is divided into twelve periods, corresponding to the twelve Earthly Branches: Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, and Hai. Each period lasts 10,800 years. The Venerable Shakyamuni of the Western Pure Land, Namo Amitabha Buddha, witnessed the suffering of mortals and felt compassion for them. He sent the Sandalwood Merit Buddha to spread the sutras, the Victorious Fighting Buddha to guard him, the Messenger of the Pure Altar to guide him, the Golden-Arhat to carry the load, and the Eight Divisions of Heavenly Dragons to bear him on horseback, all to deliver sentient beings through the Mahayana Buddhist teachings.