龍舒增廣淨土文 6.30

6.30

Those who raise silkworms should reflect to themselves thus: 'Silkworms make silk for human clothing; while this is indeed the common course of the world, it is nonetheless killing living beings. Worldly people attribute this to Bodhisattva Aśvaghoṣa, but upon examining the Tripiṭaka scriptures, there is originally no such statement; it only says that the Buddha instructed his disciples that they must not wear silk floss and thin silk, nor use leather for shoes and footwear, because they are obtained by killing living beings. Since one has taken the raising of silkworms as one's profession, how could one not feel shame and remorse? One should constantly repent, recollect Amitābha Buddha, and make a great vow saying: "May I, after seeing the Buddha and attaining the Way, completely deliver the lives of all silkworms killed since I began raising silkworms." Let thought after thought be uninterrupted; when thoughts naturally become pure and ripe, one will also be born in Sukhāvatī.' If one turns around to transform others, causing them to exhort and transform one another, one will certainly obtain retribution of blessings in the present life, and after death will also be born in the middle grade.