法苑珠林 49.36

49.36

Shun's father suffered loss of sight, which began only faintly. Coming to the words of his second wife, [she incited him against Shun], and Shun experienced the incident of the well. Shun's father was at home in poverty and distress, living in the market town. At night, Shun's father lay down and dreamed of a phoenix that called itself a chicken; holding rice in its beak, it fed him. It said, 'Regard the chicken as your descendant, though it is a phoenix.' The Dream Book of the Yellow Emperor says of it: 'Among this man's descendants, there will surely be an exalted one.' Shun divined it likewise. Successive years of purchasing grain had coins hidden inside. Shun then spent three days and three nights looking up to heaven to confess his faults. From this he heard the voices of those who regularly traded in the market. Shun came before him, and his eyes suddenly opened wide. Seeing Shun, the market people were moved to sorrow. Great sagedom and supreme filial piety are indeed moved by the spirit realm!