[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [廬山蓮宗寶鑑](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1973) › 6.14 # 廬山蓮宗寶鑑 6.14 廬山蓮宗寶鑑 6.14 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [6.14](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1973.6.14) 欲趣菩提慈心為本，凡修淨業濟物為先。觀夫飛禽走獸水族遊鱗，或挂網羅、或拘籠檻，穿腮反翼、繫足倒懸，將臨湯火之間、欲赴刀砧之上，憂悲恐懼變慴慞惶，望雲漢以魂消、憶林泉而膽碎，雖知萬死猶冀一生，顧盻哀鳴以求救拔。所以弟子悲憐抽財贖命，開籠釋檻、斷縛解懸，施水焚香合掌呪願，法施事畢安詳放之，或縱陂池、或齎林野，皆由佛道展演悲心。乃至上及人倫、下霑螻蟻，但能救死，無不放生。既乃放生，自然長命，因茲勝利回向西方，普願眾生同成佛道。所以長者活魚、沙彌救蟻，鄭昌圖焚燒罟網、顗禪師建立生池，楊寶之療病雀、敏仲之投鰕蜆，元祖師有頌戒殺、滿禪師說戒放生。可謂慇懃為解丁香結，放出枝頭自在春。 > If one wishes to approach bodhi, a mind of compassion is the foundation; whenever cultivating pure karma, succouring living creatures comes first. Consider the flying birds, running beasts, and swimming fish with their scales: some are trapped in nets and snares, or confined in coops and cages; their cheeks pierced, their wings bound back, their feet tied and hanging upside down; about to face the boiling cauldron and fire, on the verge of meeting the knife and chopping block. Grieving, fearful, terrified, and panicking, they look to the clouds and their spirits vanish; remembering the woods and springs, their courage is shattered. Though knowing death is ten-thousand-fold, they still hope for a single chance at life, looking about and crying out mournfully to seek rescue. Therefore, disciples, feeling pity, spend their wealth to ransom their lives, opening cages and releasing pens, severing bonds and untying the suspended. Bestowing water, burning incense, joining palms, and chanting vows, when the deed of Dharma-giving is complete, they release them peacefully, whether letting them loose into ponds or taking them out to forests and wilds—all unfolding the mind of compassion through the Buddha's way. Extending upward to humankind and downward to ants, wherever they can save from death, there is none whose life they do not liberate. Since they liberate life, long life naturally follows; dedicating this superior benefit toward the West, they universally vow that all living beings will together achieve the Buddha way. Thus the Elder revived the fish, the novice monk saved the ants, Zheng Changtu burned fishing nets, Dhyāna Master Yi established release ponds, Yang Bao treated the sick sparrow, and Minzhong cast back the shrimp and clams. Patriarch Yuan had a verse on refraining from killing, and Dhyāna Master Man spoke on precepts and releasing life. It may truly be said: attentively undoing the clove-blossom knots, one lets loose the unhindered spring upon the branches. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 6.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1973.6.13) - [Next: 6.15](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1973.6.15) - [Up: 6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1973.6) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1973~en-mt.6.14) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1973.6.14](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1973.6.14) · Pramāṇa