四分律行事鈔資持記 1.32

1.32

Under the author's own intent: "deliberating" means weighing with wisdom; "choosing the middle" means avoiding the errors of both verbosity and brevity. Striving for conciseness is the primary aim of this manual; providing relief in emergencies and preparing for sudden situations is the present true intention. The specific marks of saṃgha and individual practices must not be forgotten for a single moment, hence called "urgent". When affairs arise unpredictably, one has no way to handle them, hence called "sudden". The "Chapter on Master and Disciple" states, "thereby rescuing the urgency of hanging upside down"; the tenth section states, "so that it may be useful when the situation arises"—these express this very intention of urgency and suddenness. The character "middle" is read in the level tone, as explained above; or it can be read in the falling tone, meaning appropriate and fitting. Thus we know that in this canon, not a single line or phrase fails to be an essential practice; there is not a single idle word. Alas! In the degenerated age, beings are ignorant and stupid, with base and inferior aspirations; they only boast of lecturing and dedicate themselves to mere lip-service; whether regarding heavy or light classes of offenses, there is nothing their bodies do not commit; of cultivating precepts and samādhi, they do not have a single thought; causing these compassionate instructions to be discarded like rotten refuse; the words meant to rescue emergencies are hereby lost! I only fear that beneath the wheel of suffering, they will wish to stop but cannot; within the noble path, they will have no day to advance; how could intelligent and outstanding people not be moved by this!