道宣律師感通錄 1.38

1.38

I asked: "Could there be no good spirits or nāga kings? Why do they allow them to commit such sins?" He answered: "Spirits that feed on blood all come to guard and protect [them]. Those who have received the Buddha's words guard and protect the Mahāyāna monasteries and monks." I said: "I often see that in this country killing and slaughter are regarded as meritorious. I have always vowed that if I die and am reborn among the nāgas or ghosts with great power, I would make them not kill. Why do these spirits still indulge killing?" He answered: "It is entirely brought about by the evil karma of sentient beings. The fish and sheep are repaying debts; this is the constant principle." I said: "The karma of repaying debts is indeed commendable. However, their killing and eating always arise from delusion. Delusion is greed and ignorance. The delusion of greed and ignorance binds one to the evil destinies. Why do the spirits deliberately allow them to commit [it]?" He answered: "This too is fixed karma. Even the Buddhas cannot remove it, let alone the spirits! When born in this country, once their samyak-smṛti is lost, they simply indulge their killing." I said: "One previously had this vow, yet upon taking birth one loses mindfulness; what can be done about it? Unless one's meditative practice is distinctly luminous, remaining unstained even in mud, only then can this be carried out. How can this be? How can this be?" I also asked: "Shi Dao'an, 'whose fame fills the heavens,' was looked up to throughout the world. It is said that he rode a red donkey and was seen morning and evening between Jing and Xiang. I do not know if this is so." He answered: "It is false."