祈甘露雨息災

民以芋薯葉進。帝后食甘之。至西安。帝住撫院。有人食死屍者。諭禁之。四城設八施飯處。大小村鎮亦然。撫台岑春煊。請公至臥龍寺。祈禱雪雨。息旱災畢。東霞留住。公以囂煩甚潛去。

宣化偈曰：

治世犬勝亂世人。造次顛沛顯忠臣。
遍地荒旱民饑饉。撫台請公禱甘霖。

Praying for the sweet dew of rain to avert disaster

The local people offered taro and potato leaves for the Emperor and Empress to eat, which their majesties found quite good. At Hsi An, the Emperor stayed at the Provincial Governor's headquarters. During this period, people were so hungry that they were eating corpses, so a prohibitory edict was issued. Eight rice-lines were set up in the urban areas, in addition to those set up in the big and small towns and the outlying areas. Governor Ts'en Ch'un Hsuan asked the Master to go to Wo Lung (Reclining Dragon) Monastery to offer prayers for snow or rain to end the drought. At the conclusion of the prayers, Abbot Tung Hsia requested that the Master remain, but because of the clamor and din, the Master secretly left.

The gatha says:
One would rather be a dog during peaceful times than a person during times of chaos.
In the midst of roiling confusion and disorder appeared a loyal minister.
As the serious drought intensified, with the cropless masses starving,
The Provincial Governor asked the Master to pray for a lasting sweet rain.