釋門章服儀 1.8

1.8

彼沙門曰：「僕本漢陰，荊楚外屏，薄蒙餘慶，叨倖望蹤。每聞變俗形服，為入道之初門；靜處思微，樹出世之元旨。至於衣食之累，久捐擲於俗塵；見愛之纏，未解散於胸臆。所以不遠千里，問道三秦，至止已來，更新其致。向蒙餘論，薄示規猷。而昏識未萌，倒情難曉。請重書紳，廣開衢路。庶使儀形有據，法炬之照常明；幽途重朗，道樹之風逾遠。」

That śramaṇa said: 'I am originally from Hanyin, an outlying border of Jingchu; by a small measure of inherited fortune, I have unworthily had the privilege of following your footsteps. I have always heard that altering worldly appearance and robes is the initial gateway to entering the Way; and contemplating the subtle in a quiet place establishes the fundamental purpose of leaving the world. As for the burdens of clothing and food, they have long been cast away into worldly dust; yet the entanglements of views and attachments have not been dispersed from my heart. Therefore, not shrinking from a journey of a thousand li, I came to Sanqin to inquire about the Way. Since arriving here, my perspectives have been renewed. Just now, I was favored with your leftover discourse, which briefly showed me the model and rule. Yet my benighted understanding has not yet sprouted, and my inverted passions are difficult to illuminate. I pray that you write it down again on my sash and broadly open the thoroughfares, so that deportment and form may have a basis, the illumination of the lamp of the Dharma may shine ever bright, the obscure path may be cleared again, and the breeze of the Bodhi-tree may reach ever further.'