經律異相 1.108

1.108

When diviners forecast rain, there are five causal conditions that cannot be known with certainty and cause the diviner to be bewildered: First, clouds have thunder and lightning, and the divination predicts it will rain, but because the fire element is excessive it burns the clouds and it does not rain. Second, clouds have thunder and lightning, and the divination also predicts rain, but a great wind arises and scatters the clouds in all directions among the mountains. Third, clouds have thunder and lightning, and the divination also predicts rain, but at that moment an asura gathers up the floating clouds and places them into the great ocean. Fourth, clouds have thunder and lightning, and the divination also predicts rain, yet the rain master is wanton and licentious, so rain never falls. Fifth, clouds have thunder and lightning, and the divination also predicts rain, yet the sentient beings in the world are unprincipled and licentious, defiling pure conduct, stingy, envious, and holding perverse views; therefore heaven does not send down rain. Due to these five circumstances, the signs cannot be known with certainty. (From the Dīrgha-āgama, fascicle 20; the Loutan jing is the same.)