128.皈依後念佛往生 After a cock takes refuge, it is mindful of the Buddha, and goes off to rebirth

皈依後念佛往生

後不斗。獨棲樹。不傷蟲。不與不食。念佛立化。公銘曰。「好斗成性此雞雄。傷冠拔羽血流紅。知畏奉戒狂心歇。素食孤棲不害蟲。兩目瞻仰黃金相。念佛喔喔何從容。旋繞三撲奄然化。眾生與佛將無同。」

宣化偈曰：

雄雞念佛尚往生。吾人豈可不精勤。 念茲在茲不間斷。一心不亂悟無生。

After a cock takes refuge, it is mindful of the Buddha, and goes off to rebirth

After that, the cock no longer fought, but perched alone in a tree. It did not harm insects, and so if no one gave it food, it did not eat. One day, it died standing up, reciting the Buddha’s name. The Master then wrote the following verse:

To be fond of fighting was the disposition of this dauntless cock, Which injured fowl, pulling out their plumes, making their red blood flow. But, knowing fear, it took the precepts; thereupon, its mad mind stopped. Roosting alone and a vegetarian, it no longer injured insects. Its eyes would gaze up and contemplate the yellow-golden images, While it crowed reciting the Buddha’s name without any difficulty. After circling around and bowing three full bows, it peacefully passed away. What difference can be found between beings and the Buddhas?

The gatha says: Even the dauntless cock recited “Buddha,” and then went off to rebirth, So how can we who are people afford not to be diligent? Being ever mindful, ever reciting without interruption, Single-minded, without confusion, one enlightens to non-production.