法苑珠林 64.24

64.24

The Xiaozhuangyan Temple of the Liang was in Dingyin Lane in Jiankang. It was originally the site of the shrine of the King of Lingling of the Jin. In the sixth year of the Tianjian reign, Chan Master Dodu founded it. At that time, there was one Zou Wenli, who for generations had slaughtering as his trade. Once he wished to slaughter a deer; the deer knelt down and shed tears. Thinking this inauspicious, he immediately cut it open and eviscerated it. The deer was carrying a fawn and was about to give birth. Facing the butcher's knife, its grief was so piercing that a remorseful heart arose [in him]. Because of this, he fell ill: his eyebrows and beard all fell out, and his body was covered in sores and decayed. Consequently, feeling shame and remorse, he gave rise to deep self-reproach. He sought Chan Master Daodu to openly confess and severely repent, made great vows, gave up his entire family estate, bought this land, and founded a saṃghārāma for him. (Seen in the Liangjing si ji.)