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信大師遇時亢旱。民殺牲請雨。師憫其愚。謂曰。汝能去牲勿用。吾為汝請。民允之。師乃精誠以禱。甘雨驟降。遠進多感化者。
【白話註解】
有一次，正值旱災荒年，五穀不生，人民面臨飢荒，惶恐不安，紛紛議論要宰殺牲畜，祭天降雨。信大師見人民愚癡的作法深生憐憫，於是對眾人說：「殺害牲畜，祈求降雨，是悖逆天理的愚昧行為，上天有好生之德，你們如此作法，不但求不得兩，反而造罪，會招來災殃。你們若能釋放畜生不殺，我自為大家祈雨。人民聽了，覺得很有道理，都願遵照大師的話，釋放牲畜，不殺生祭祀。於是，大師便襬設香壇，精誠祈禱，甘雨果然立刻下降，人民興高釆烈，遠近居民，多受感化。
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| Dharma Master Syin Saved the Sacrificial Animals and Prayed for Rain |
Once during a drought (in China), the crops needed water, and the villagers and farmers, being uneducated, could only think to perform a ritual and pray for rain. They prepared many animals for slaughter as a sacrificial offering to heaven and earth to demonstrate their sincerity in seeking rain.
When the Great Dharma Master Syin saw what these people were preparing to do, he pitied them for their stupidity, and said to them, "Sacrificing animals to pray for rain goes against divine principle and is ignorant and cruel. You should know that the virtue of Heaven is to nurture all living things, not exclusively people. If you perform this ritual, not only will you fail to bring rain, you will add to your own offenses and will consequently have to undergo even greater disasters in the future. But if you can follow what I say and set these animals free instead of killing them, I will pray for rain on your behalf."
When these people heard his words, they felt there was some principle in it; so they heeded his advice and set the animals free, not killing them as an offering to the gods.
The Great Master then set up an altar, lit incense, and prayed on behalf of the people with utmost sincerity. Indeed, not long after, the rain came. People were greatly delighted. This event touched the hearts of even those who lived far away, transforming many people.
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