釋門自鏡錄 2.10

2.10

Lingcai had the secular surname Zhao and was a native of Dongyang. Although he had entered the gate of the Way, his conduct was identical to that of the vulgar crowd. Gathering with others to drink and eat, he never felt any shame. He was once among the guests of Gu Pei, a prominent gentleman of Wu, seated at the Shengping Pavilion. He saw a sheep being led in to be used for food in the kitchen. Because the net of greed covered his mind, Cai never uttered a word of dissuasion. Soon the sheep broke its rope and ran beneath Cai's knees, thrusting its head under his kāṣāya as if seeking rescue. Cai remained silent. The sheep was immediately dragged away. In a short while, after the slaughtering and disemboweling were finished, the meat was roasted and served. Cai was the first to eat a piece of meat. Just as it entered his throat, the meat ran downward from above, striking against his heart and attacking his belly. The twisting agony was beyond endurance; writhing and groaning, his acute distress moved those around him. Pei immediately ordered a doctor to apply acupuncture. The roasted meat was still moving; they pierced the skin and took it out, and it was indeed the piece of meat. Cai fell ill, made sheep cries, spat foam, and returned to the monastery. Shortly thereafter he died. Those far and near who heard of it took it as a solemn warning.