“The preceding cart” is the cart travelling ahead. “Wreck” means it has crashed. “The cart that follows” is the one coming behind. “Warning” means exercising caution. The lesson: take those ruined by lust, who brought death and ruin upon their households, as your cautionary example, just as later carts take warning from an earlier wreck. Thus shall blessings and longevity increase, as though imbibing the divine elixir of immortality.
In days of old, spirit‑writing manifested divine revelation, yet folk half‑believed and half‑doubted.
“In days of old” means in former times. In bygone days, spirit‑writing altars were established, where divine messages descended through flying planchettes to enlighten mortals. Alas, people were divided between faith and scepticism: few believed, many doubted.
Hence catastrophes loom constantly; strife and warfare rage far and wide. Heaven and earth are turned upside down, bringing misfortunes upon millions of people.
“Catastrophes” refer to calamities such as floods, fires, pestilences and the like. To loom repeatedly means they keep coming. Moreover, wars bring turmoil to the whole world, turning heaven and earth upside down. Millions of people suffer from the ensuing misfortunes. What a pitiable sight!
With blazing lamps and candles, altars are raised everywhere to expound sacred teachings. Townsfolk and villagers rally eagerly; each community recites penitential liturgies and honors the sacred scriptures.
“Blazing” describes brilliant lamplight. “Raise altars” means setting up spirit‑writing shrines. “Expound sacred teachings” means explaining moral and spiritual doctrines. Because disasters repeatedly descended, townsfolk and villagers alike gladly contributed funds to erect ritual altars and perform sacred ceremonies, hoping to turn back the tide of calamity.
All this amounts to mending the pen after sheep have strayed, striving to win back Heaven’s favor.
The establishing of altars and preaching of teachings seek solely to turn back the will of Heaven. It is like a shepherd mending his pen after sheep have escaped: doing all that human effort can accomplish.
I too spare no toil, preaching the Dharma to deliver mortals.