龍舒增廣淨土文 8.17

8.17

晉江邵彪字希文，為士人時，夢至一官府，人皆稱安撫。彪自喜曰：「豈非予及第後作安撫乎？」行至前，見一官員，問云：「汝知汝未及第因否？」對云：「不知。」令引彪去看，見一大鑊煮蛤蜊，見彪乃作人聲叫彪姓名，彪遂念阿彌陀佛。方念一聲，蛤蜊皆變作黃雀飛去。彪後果及第至安撫使。以此見，殺生阻人前程，不可不戒。又見佛力廣大，不可不敬。官職自有定分，不可苟求。

Shao Biao, courtesy name Xiwen, of Jinjiang, while still a scholar, dreamed that he came to a government office where everyone addressed him as "Pacification Commissioner." Biao was secretly pleased, saying: "Can it be that after passing the examinations I will serve as Pacification Commissioner?" Walking to the front, he saw an official who asked, saying: "Do you know the reason why you have not yet passed the examinations?" He replied, saying: "I do not know." The official ordered someone to lead Biao to go and look. He saw a great cauldron boiling clams; when they saw Biao, they uttered human voices calling Biao's name. Biao then recited Amitābha Buddha. Just as he recited a single phrase, the clams all transformed into yellow sparrows and flew away. Biao later indeed passed the examinations and reached the office of Pacification Commissioner. From this it can be seen that killing living beings obstructs a person's future prospects; one must not fail to abstain from it. One also sees that the Buddha's power is vast and great; one must not fail to revere it. Official posts have their destined shares; one must not seek them improperly.