洋人信佛供僧
奉藏及妙公灵骨。至槟城。迎者数千人。供念变食真言。旋风复起。霞光如前。妙公以建寺结缘。秘行难思。公讲心经。转船赴泰。有一英人来访。说国语。谈次乃知是英驻滇使。助洋三千。
宣化偈曰:
化行中外度洋人。乐助输将三千银。
若非至德焉如是。因缘恩及兽与禽。
Meeting a Westerner who believes in the Buddha and makes an offering to the Sangha
The Master proceeded on to Penang, Malaysia, with the Imperial Tripitaka, and the relics of the Venerable Miao. There were several thousand people who welcomed him upon arrival. During the ceremonies, when the food-transforming mantra was being recited, a whirlwind again arose, and multi-colored light was seen as before. The Venerable Master Miao had tied up conditions by establishing temples, and the profundity of his secret practices was inconceivable indeed. The Master expounded on the Heart Sutra, and then traveled by boat to Thailand. On board was an Englishman who spoke Chinese with the Master. The man turned out to be the British consul stationed in Yunnan Province. He contributed $3,000.
The gatha says:
Teaching and practicing in China and abroad, he also converted a Westerner,
Who gladly aided with his own contribution of three thousand dollars in silver.
If the Master's virtue had not been supreme, how could this event have happened?
His affinities and kindness extended to the birds and beasts as well.