佛說觀佛三昧海經 3.27

3.27

“One ray shines downward upon the asuras, yakṣas, gandharvas, garuḍas, kinnaras, mahoragas, nāgas, rākṣasas, pūtanas, kumbhīras, spirits who consume human vitality, kumbhāṇḍas, kṛtyas, spirits of the wilderness, pretas, vomit-eating pretas, spittle-eating pretas, pus-and-blood-eating pretas, feces-and-urine-eating pretas, mountain spirits, tree spirits, and water spirits. The bodies of several hundred thousand such spirits and deities temporarily take on the color of devas' bodies, becoming supple, joyful, and serene, like a monk entering the third dhyāna. In accordance with their respective karmic practices, these spirits spontaneously arouse the three kinds of bodhicitta. When the light of the mark of the tongue appears to the pretas, it is like cold water extinguishing the fire between their joints. Once the fire is extinguished, the molten copper falls to the ground and sinks straight into the earth. At that time, all the pretas open their mouths and cry out: ‘We are starving, starving! For tens of millions of years we have never seen water. Now we encounter this water, which dispels the heat with cool refreshment. Whose power is this?’ A voice in the sky proclaims: ‘Foolish pretas, there is a Buddha, a Bhagavat, who emits light from his tongue. His light shines upon you, causing all your bitter afflictions to come to rest.’ When these words have been spoken, before each preta appears a compassionate mother seated on a lotus throne. Just as a compassionate mother embraces an infant and gives it milk to drink, she satisfies the pretas. Once satisfied, they arouse the bodhicitta. Once they have aroused this aspiration, each compassionate mother transforms into a Buddha. At that time, each Buddha also emits the mark of the tongue to deliver the pretas.”