"This is bizarre," Yin Anyan asked his family. "Who on earth killed my donkey?"
"What?"
"Somebody killed my donkey and left the skin in the yard." They went out to look. "Looks like somebody ate the meat and left the hide." They were all quite angry. It had been a fine donkey.
A year or two later, a stranger accosted Yin on the street. "Your time is up. The soul-catchers will collect you tomorrow." Then the person vanished into thin air.
Yin was covered in goosebumps. He went straight to Cumen Temple, where he knew some monks, and sat in the chapel. He stayed there all night, kowtowing, chanting the name of Buddha Amitabha, and reciting sutras.
The next morning, he saw a dozen demons armed with spears, halberds, and swords coming for him. They stood outside the temple and roared, "Get out here now!" Yin ignored them and kept reciting his sutra.
"I told you we should have taken him yesterday," one demon said. "Now he's in there reciting a sutra, and there's nothing we can do." Yin's hair stood on end. He buried his face in the sutra. The demons huddled together, then left to collect other souls, leaving one sentry at the door to catch Yin if he stepped out.
Soon, the sentry spoke. "Look, why not come peacefully? It's easier for everyone. We have nothing against you personally. We're just doing our job. The donkey you murdered has filed a complaint, so we must take you in. Sorry, but that's the way it is."
"Ask my family!" Yin pleaded. "I didn't kill that donkey! Someone else did and left the skin in my yard. I'm innocent!"
"Tell it to the judge."
"Let's do this," Yin suggested. "I'll recite sutras and hold ceremonies for my donkey's soul, but I can't do that if I'm dead, can I? Could you ask the donkey if that's acceptable?"
"Alright, I'll see what I can do," the demon replied. "If the donkey doesn't agree, we'll be back tomorrow with a warrant. Hiding here won't help you then. If we don't come tomorrow, it means we have a deal." The demon vanished in a puff of smoke.
The next day, Yin was on pins and needles, but the demons never appeared. He recited sutras for the donkey's soul and performed ceremonies to release it from suffering.
More importantly, Yin learned a vital lesson: all living creatures cherish their lives. From that day on, he and his entire family never ate meat again.