十一、再生受福
從前,蘇州有一位王大林,一生愛惜生物,並且常買生物放生。他常看見村中的小孩子捉弄魚、鳥、蟲等類動物,必多方勸止,並給小孩子銅錢,讓他們買來放生。
他生平常勸人說:「少年時,必須培養仁慈愛惜物命的美德,不可令他養成殘忍好殺的習氣。」村中的小孩子都聽從王大林的教導,連鄰里父兄都受感化,也效法他的作風。
後來王大林重病將死,恍惚中聽到有人對他說:「你平生放生,有很大功德,將可增延福壽三紀(十二年為一紀)。」他因而得以復活,並且享年九十七歲,五代同堂,無病善終。
11. Enjoying The Blessings of A Renewed Life
Long ago in Su-zhou there was a man whose name was Wang Da-lin. He was a very kind man by nature and showed great concern towards all beings. Besides that he always bought animals to be liberated. When he saw that the children in the village were playing tricks on the fish, birds, worms and other forms of life, he would use ways and means to discourage them from doing so. He also gave them money so that they could liberate lives.
He would always encourage people and said, “We must nurture the minds of the youths and teach them virtuous conduct like humanity, kindness and compassion so that they will know how to hsow concern towards all beings. We should discourage them from the bad practice of killing living beings.” The children in the village all listened to his teaching. Even the elders in the neighborhood were transformed by him and they too followed his example.
Later Mr. Wang fell sick and was on the verge of death. In a trance, he seemed to hear the following words, “In this life, you have accrued much merits and virtues by liberating lives. So your age will be increased by three twelve-year cycles.”
Following that he recovered and lived to see five generations of his descendents. He enjoyed much blessings and finally, he passed away peacefully at the age of ninety seven.