阿育王寺拜舍利

朝普陀竟。回宁波经阿育王寺。备火食。三元一月。拜舍利两藏用报父母劬劳之恩。相传育王所供舍利。乃释迦牟尼佛之真身。故人多发愿拜舍利。至天童寺。听讲《楞严宗通》毕。离去。　

宣化偈曰：
舍利真身如来存。留与斯世种福人。
不勤耕田何收获。栽培灌溉莫偷闲。

Bowing to the relics at King Ashoka Temple

After his pilgrimage to P'u T'o Mountain, the Master returned to Ning Po, where he passed through King Ashoka Temple. He arranged for provisions at a cost of three yuan per month. Making obeisance to the relics and the two Pitikas (Mahayana and Hinayana), he sought to repay the toilsome labor and kindness of his parents. The sharira enshrined by King Ashoka are reputed to be those of the True Body of Shakyamuni Buddha, and therefore many people come to make vows and bow before the relics. The Master went on to T'ien T'ung Monastery, and after hearing an exposition of the Analytical Commentary on the Shurangama Sutra, continued on his way.

The verse says:
Within the Real Body's sharira, the Tathagata is abiding.
They remain in the world and are conferred upon people who plant blessings.
If one does not plough one's own fields, how can one reap a harvest?
Irrigate well, nourish and enrich, and do not steal time for leisure.