勅修百丈清規 1.88

1.88

祈雪

Buddhas. The objective of this prayer is abundant rainfall. May a

prompt response be granted, so that the people may be rescued from

the difficulty of such oppressive situations. This is indeed most diffi-

cult and dangerous. May the cloud dragon rise over the mountains and

rivers, bringing about abundant rain, so that farm work may be done

and the harvest season may be completed once again.

3. The Prayer Invocation for Snowfall

It is anxiously observed that whenever the winter is unusually warm,

living things are always harmed. Snowfall purifies the noxious atmos-

phere of the land below. We thus offer incense with utmost sincerity,

wishing for the good omen of snowflakes amassed on the ground. We

have respectfully prepared the ceremonial place of prayer for invoking

snowfall and teams of practitioners have with utmost sincerity con-

ducted uninterrupted prayer through chanting sacred scriptures and eso-

teric verses each day in order to appeal to the Buddhas. The objective

of this prayer is snowfall. May a prompt response be granted, so that snowclouds may spread equally over thousands of miles and there may be abundant rain and snowfall in the eight regions of the universe, the six agencies of nature (i.e., heat, water, metal, wood, soil, and crops) may operate through the threefold processes (i.e., essential, efficient, and self-regenerating), grasses and trees may grow thick, the two principles of yin and yang may be harmonized, and the five primary elements of nature (i.e., fire, water, wind, metal, and earth) may be in good order, and, thereby, gods and humans may be in harmony.

4. The Prayer Invocation for the

Dispersion of Locusts

It is anxiously observed that flying locusts fill the entire sky. This is a bad omen to be feared, for after they disappear by entering the ground, no one knows where they may stir up calamities again. Unless supernatural efficacy is rendered, no matter how many human hands may attempt it, the dispersion [of these locusts] cannot be accomplished. Thus, we have respectfully prepared the ceremonial place of prayer for the banishment of locusts, and teams of practitioners have with utmost sincerity conducted uninterrupted prayer through chanting the sacred scriptures and esoteric verses each day in order to appeal to the Buddhas. The objective of this prayer is the expulsion and dispersion of locusts. May a prompt dispersal be granted, so that rains and winds wash and blow all the locusts away, into the rivers where they may take the course of their own karma, the people may regain a sense of safety, and a normal way of life may resume.

5. The Prayer Invocation

for a Day of Eclipse

It is predicted that an eclipse will take place today, and that the five regulatory agencies of time (i.e., year, day, month, constellation, and calendrical numeration) are slightly out of proper order. Because of such disorder, it is feared that the mighty force of heaven might cause the six kinds of evil celestial phenomena (i.e., periods of continuous

cloud cover, drought, wind, rain, darkening, and gloaming) to occur. Thus, in order to rescue the people from their fear and protect them from confusion, we rely on the power of the Buddhas. Teams of practitioners have respectfully conducted uninterrupted prayer through chanting the sacred scriptures and esoteric verses in order to extend our help and protection. May the spirit of the sun promptly regain its light so that its five variegated rays spread wide, illuminating the earth’s surface below and causing shadows to disappear, and the sun shines brightly throughout the sky.

6. The Prayer Invocation for a

Day of Lunar Eclipse

The moon is the master of the night through its shining nature of yin. The faintness of its illumination during an eclipse reveals heaven’s inauspicious omen to the people. Humans rely on the moon’s illumination, and heaven demonstrates its power of punishment to the people for their transgressions by inducing a lunar eclipse. Because they have subjected themselves to the rules of restraint by avowing their past transgressions, the practitioners of the sangha are deemed able to generate utmost sincerity and attempt to restore the illumination from this inauspicious phenomenon through chanting the sacred scriptures and esoteric verses in order to proffer their assistance. May the flowery moon promptly return to its brightness, so that evil darkness extinguishes its trace and the clear light may once again manifest itself over the earth’s land, hills, and rivers. May the moon maintain long life so as to include myriads of phenomena in its vast and cool palace.

End of Chapter II: Discharging Indebtedness to the State

End of Fascicle One

Fascicle Two