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x86n1599 yongming dao ji.g2.0f

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English

English version Mists embrace and clouds surge. Establishing a great Dharma banner (建大法幢), merit surpassing myriad arrows (功超万镞). Far warding off raging waves (远障狂澜), eternally pacifying the Yue kingdom (永宁越国). Constantly with pure karma (恒以净业), gathering thoughts for rebirth (摄念往生). Knowing the time of death, sitting in stillness (抚期坐逝), celestial music comes to greet (仙乐来迎). The spiritual remains cremated (灵蜕既焚), fragrant firewood also ablaze (香薪亦炽). Manifesting countless Śarīras (舍利罗) (现设利罗), covering the body like scales (遍身鳞砌). In the distant, obscure depths of the underworld (杳杳重泉), who understands my heart (夫谁知音)? Yama, the lord of hell (炎魔罗主), seeing the shadow, returns to the heart (睹影归心). The towering pagoda stands out uniquely (雉塔标奇), the beautiful Luan slope spreads fame (鸾坡流誉). The moon reflected in a thousand rivers (一月千江), neither coming nor going (无来无去). Accidentally encountering the golden bones (偶逢金骨), welcoming them back to the shores of the lake (迎返湖濵). Just like a poor child (正犹穷子), returning to rely on relatives (归依所亲). In every kṣetra, every mote of dust (刹刹尘尘), in every place, every location (在在处处). May this merit circulate everywhere (愿此流通), even in the smallest place, may it be so (寸里如是). Yongming's (永明) Path Traces (end) No. 1599-B Releasing life and redeeming beings, ceasing killing and arousing compassion. Cutting off the calamity of burning and boiling (断烧煮之殃), releasing the bonds of cages and nets (释笼罩之絷). Extending the sea of life spans (续寿量之海), accomplishing the cause of wisdom-life (成慧命之因). Ultimately attaining the complete forms of beings on land and water (遂得水陆全形), ceasing the suffering of falling into traps, being caught in nets, and being swallowed by hooks (息陷网吞钩之苦). Allowing birds and fish to live freely according to their nature (飞沉任性), escaping the worries of burning forests and draining lakes (脱焚林竭泽之忧). Preventing animals from losing their newborn offspring after digging burrows (免使穴罢新胎), nests without old eggs remaining (巢无旧卵). Animal fat no longer boiled in cauldrons (脂消鼎镬), animal meat no longer chopped on cutting boards (肉碎刀砧). In the past, there was a Chan master named Deng Yinfeng (邓隐峰). Before becoming a monk, he once shot a baby monkey, which fell to the ground and died. Soon after, the monkey's mother also died. Upon opening her abdomen, her intestines were found to be broken into pieces. Therefore, he abandoned his hunting profession and became a monk. From this, it can be known that although humans and animals have different forms, the karmic retributions they receive vary greatly. Love is the root of affection, and it is the same for all of their kind. Life does not differentiate between large and small, and sin does not differentiate between the wise and the foolish. Even unintentional harm or killing still requires repayment of remaining karmic debts; how can intentional actions escape the pursuit of karma? Either taking the One-Day Precept (一日戒), or upholding the Eight Precepts (八关斋), or not eating sentient beings' flesh (不啖有情), or forever abstaining from meat and blood (永断荤血). One will not encounter the Three Disasters (三灾), and will be able to ascend to the Six Desire Heavens (六欲天) to enjoy blessings. It is both a cause for increasing lifespan and accumulating seeds of great compassion. On the day of Frost's Descent in the ninth month of autumn in the year Bingwu during the Wanli (万历) reign (Gregorian calendar). Respectfully written by Dahe (大壑) of Jingci Temple (净慈寺) in Ancient Hangzhou (古杭). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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