四分律行事鈔資持記 1.535

1.535

敘意中，初示意。今下，斥世，上二句通斥愚暗。漠落，喻不明也。曾下，出不明之相。定下，決破。必下，誡慎。觀夫祖訓極明，人誰不讀。及乎臨事，還溺此迷。豈非妄習積深，良醫莫治。今略引示，幸宜改之。謂主法者一月已前，自錄界相，令他暗誦。唱者未甞目覩，同住都無曉知。而乃對眾執文，號為證相；秉燈數字，不使差訛。側耳尋聲，莫知方詣。況自然分齊，曾不觀量；作相集僧，寧思足別。白告則巧莊對偶，不異伶倫；秉結則引弄音聲，便同歌伎。唯念明晨散席，坐位高低；更憂請主相酬，施利多少。如斯罔世，非是一朝。誤彼大緣，自沈萬劫。來學有恥，極須誡之。

In stating the purpose: first, it indicates the purpose. From "nowadays..." onward, it reprimands the worldly; the upper two lines reprimand ignorance in general. "Vague and scattered" (漠落) is a metaphor for lack of clarity. From "never..." onward, it presents the signs of lack of clarity. From "decisively..." onward, it settles and refutes it. From "surely..." onward, it cautions vigilance. When we observe the teachings of the Patriarchal Master, they are extremely clear; who has not read them? Yet when facing actual events, they still drown in this confusion. How could it not be that deluded habits have accumulated so deeply that even an excellent physician cannot cure them? Now I briefly cite and explain it, hoping they will change. It refers to the officiant recording the boundary markers himself a month in advance and having others memorize them silently. The Chanter has never seen them with his own eyes, and his fellow residents have no understanding at all. Yet facing the assembly, they hold the text, claiming to "verify the markers"; holding lamps, they count the words, making sure there are no errors. Tilting their ears to follow the sounds, they do not know what direction they are heading. What is more, as for the extent of the natural boundary, they have never measured it; when marking the markers and assembling the Saṃgha, how could they consider quorums and separate assemblies? In announcements, they artfully fashion parallel phrases, no different from actors; in holding consecrations, they draw out and modulate vocal melodies, exactly like singing-girls. They only think about the seating ranks high and low when the session disperses tomorrow morning; they worry even more about how much remuneration the donor will provide in offerings. Deceiving the world like this is not a matter of a single day. Misleading others in such a great matter, they submerge themselves for myriad kalpas. If future students have any sense of shame, they must strictly take heed.