釋氏稽古略 3.207

3.207

Providing food for flying and running creatures. In the eighth year of the Yuanhe era, Dharma Master Zhixing's understanding and awakening were peerless, yet he had few disciples. An elder monk happened to read Zhixing's writings and said: 'Your insight is exceedingly high and accords well with the Buddha's intent. That you have few disciples today is simply because you lack karmic affinity with people. Even a Buddha cannot deliver those without affinity, let alone a beginner! You should prepare food and give it as alms to flying and running creatures. After twenty years, you will naturally have an assembly.' Zhixing acted according to his instruction, cooked rice, and scattered it outside the suburbs. This caused birds to gather in great numbers to snatch the rice. Zhixing made an aspiration, saying: 'May those who eat my food become companions of the Dharma.' Twenty years later, Zhixing went to the city of Yecheng to lecture, and beneath his seat was an assembly of more than a thousand people, all young bhikṣus (His biography and Records of Retributive Response).