法苑珠林 63.8

63.8

如大雲輪請雨經云。佛言。若請大雨及止雨法。汝今諦聽。其請雨主。於一切眾生起慈悲心。受八戒齋。於空露地。應張青帳懸十青幡。淨治其地牛糞塗場。請誦呪師坐青座上。若在家人受八戒齋。若比丘者應持禁戒。皆著清淨衣。燒好名香。又以末香散法師座。應食三種白淨之食。所謂牛乳酪及糠米。誦此大雲輪品時。面向東坐。晝夜至心令聲不斷。供養一切諸佛。復以淨水置新瓶中安置四維。隨其財力辦作種種食供養諸龍。復以香華散道場中。及與四面法座四面。各用純新淨牛糞汁。畫作龍形（耶舍法師傳云西國土俗以牛能耕地出生萬物故以牛糞為淨梵王帝釋及牛並立神廟以祠之佛隨俗情故同為淨）東面去座三肘已外畫作龍形。一身三頭并龍眷屬。南面去座五肘已外畫作龍形。一身五頭并龍眷屬。西面去座七肘已外畫作龍形。一身七頭并龍眷屬。北面去座九肘已外畫作龍形。一身九頭并龍眷屬。其誦呪師應自護身。或呪淨水。或呪白灰。自心憶念以結場界。或畫一步乃至多步。若水若灰用為界畔。或呪縷繫頸。若手若足。呪水灰時散灑頂上。若於額上。應作是念。有惡心者不得入此界場。其誦呪者。於一切眾生起慈悲心。勸請一切諸佛菩薩憐愍加護。迴此功德分施諸龍。若時無雨。讀誦此經。一日二日。乃至七日。音聲不斷亦如上法。必定降雨。大海水潮。可留過限。若能具足依此修行不降雨者。無有是處。唯除不信不至心者。

As the *Mahāmegha-cakra-prabarṣaṇa-sūtra* states, the Buddha said: "If one performs the method to supplicate for great rain or to stop rain, listen closely now. The person who supplicates for rain should arouse thoughts of loving-kindness and compassion toward all sentient beings and observe the eightfold abstinence. Out in the open air, one should spread a blue canopy and hang ten blue banners. Purify the ground, smearing the ritual site with cow dung, and invite a master who recites incantations to sit on a blue seat. If a layperson, they should receive the eightfold abstinence; if a monk, he should observe the prohibitive precepts. All should wear pure, clean garments and burn fine, renowned incense. Also scatter powdered incense on the Dharma master's seat. One should consume three kinds of white, pure food, namely: cow's milk, curds, and polished rice. When reciting this Mahāmegha-cakra chapter, face east while sitting, maintaining the sound day and night with the utmost sincerity without interruption, and make offerings to all Buddhas. Furthermore, place pure water into new vases and arrange them in the four intermediate directions. According to one's wealth, prepare various foods to offer to the nāgas. Moreover, scatter fragrant flowers in the ritual precinct and around the four sides of the Dharma seat. On each of the four sides, using pure, fresh cow dung juice, paint the figures of nāgas (Master Yishe's biography notes: 'According to the customs of the Western regions, because cattle can plow the ground and generate the myriad things, cow dung is considered pure. Brahmā, Śakra, and cattle all have shrines erected to sacrifice to them. The Buddha, following worldly sentiment, likewise regarded it as pure'). On the eastern side, three cubits away from the seat, paint the figure of a nāga: one body with three heads, along with the nāga's retinue. On the southern side, five cubits away from the seat, paint the figure of a nāga: one body with five heads, along with the nāga's retinue. On the western side, seven cubits away from the seat, paint the figure of a nāga: one body with seven heads, along with the nāga's retinue. On the northern side, nine cubits away from the seat, paint the figure of a nāga: one body with nine heads, along with the nāga's retinue. The master reciting the incantation should protect his own body: either by blessing pure water or blessing white ash, mentally concentrating to bind the boundaries of the ritual ground; or by tracing one pace, up to many paces, using either water or ash as the boundary line; or by blessing a thread and tying it to the neck, hands, or feet. When blessing the water and ash, scatter and sprinkle it atop the head or on the forehead, and make this reflection: 'Those with evil minds may not enter this ritual boundary.' The reciter of the incantation should arouse loving-kindness and compassion toward all sentient beings, entreating all Buddhas and bodhisattvas to have pity and grant their protective power, dedicating this merit to share among the nāgas. If at that time there is no rain, read and recite this sūtra for one day, two days, or even up to seven days, with the sound unbroken, also following the method above; it is certain to cause rain to fall. The tides of the great ocean may exceed their bounds, but if one fully practices according to this and rain does not fall, that is impossible—except only for those who are unbelieving or insincere."