四分律刪繁補闕行事鈔 1.94

1.94

Now, the ocean of the Vinaya is profound and deep, its ford leading through all phenomena. Although it encompasses all without exterior, it does not harbor a corpse; though its waves and clouds rise like mountain peaks, its tide never exceeds its limit. Therefore, all who join this profound portal must rigorously adhere to pure prohibitions, allowing no room for wrongdoing; those who bathe their minds in the waters of the Way must yearn to retain the essentials of transcendence, unstained by the world. Thus their virtue can benefit their times, and their steps can transcend the dusty net. Truly, without the Dharma, there is no way to illuminate their deportment; without the Way, there is no way to manifest their virtue. Yet those of shallow understanding and mediocre views in these decadent final times, though nominally enrolled among the dark-robed, have studied nothing profound or enduring; their practice does not rely on the Vinaya, so what goodness can they possess? Since their dispositions are coarse and crude, how could they fathom the true essentials! Clinging to their narrow views and guarding the stump, their aspirations are cut off from broad horizons. Narrow within their minds, their words lack attainment; though their intent is to discuss the Way, they are no different from the mundane; drifting with the secular current, their deeds contradict the true purpose. Though they have studied for years, they remain blindly confounded about what to rely on; how much less, when speaking of worldly treatises, could anyone realize it? Consequently, confusion and chaos are brought about, throwing the offices of the Dharma into disorder. Giving free rein to seizing and relinquishing, they act with exclusive cruelty and tyranny; this is not even tolerated by secular standards, so how could the deportment of the Way be preserved? This causes new students to be blocked by boulders, and the essentials of the Vinaya to be severed from reins and halter; at such a time, how could the profound guidelines of the true Dharma fail to collapse? Thus we know that flourishing and decay depend on people! If one deeply reveres and protects the Dharma, why worry that the sun of the Buddha will not shine again, or that the wheel of the Dharma will not turn anew? Now I briefly point out the essence of the tradition and the marks of practice, so that later learners may have something upon which to build.