佛祖統紀 37.15

37.15

Dharma Master Ciyun, on Mount Tiantai, exhorted popular customs regarding sacrifices to the spirits, urging that bloody sacrifices be changed to vegetarian feasts. His text stated: 'From the seven ancestral shrines of the Son of Heaven down to the commoners, all alike sacrifice to the round mound and the square pool, and to the spirits above and below. This is an enduring canon of the state; if we exhort them to cease these sacrifices, would that not excessively harm the customs of the state?' He explained: 'Sacrifices originate from secular canons, while reforming sacrifices is based on Buddhist sūtras. Secular canons do not escape slaughter; Buddhist sūtras value only compassion. Slaughter brings retribution in the three destinies; compassion bears fruit in the myriad virtues. Using good to reform evil is always acceptable.'