The people from Tai-hu in Jiangsu were mostly fishermen and hunters. They all enjoyed killing fish and birds. However, Shen Wenbao and his family, always performed good deeds. Whenever they saw the birds and fish which had been caught they would buy them for liberation. They often advised the other people to perform good deeds. They said, "People who kill lacks the virtues of being kind and compassionate. Their blessings and lifespan will gradually be decreased too. Besides the retribution is also very frightening. It will befall them and their future generations.
At that time, there was an epidemic of plague in the area. One night, a villager saw two ghosts of plague. They were carrying a lot of flags. They said, "We will put the flags at the doors of all the houses except for Shen Wenbao's because his family members often liberate lives."
The next day, the whole village of about 300 families with the exception of Shen's family, fell ill with the disease. More than half of the population died of the disease. Shen's family was completely unaffected. As Wenbao had been performing good deeds throughout his life he enjoyed good health until a ripe old age before passing away peacefully.
The form of a frog resembles that of a human being,
It croaks away as it also possesses the knowing faculty.
They travel in groups among the grain stalks in the fields,
And by feeding on the snout moth's larvae they help
to protect the plants every year.
This is a very delightful site. The pictures and stories are truly artistic.
Posted by: henriette | January 27, 2007 at 02:48 AM