釋門歸敬儀 1.30

1.30

The preface states: Setting up images to represent the true is a constant norm of worldly custom; pointing the finger to trap the moon is the ordinary rule of the transcendent path. Yet because of deluded thoughts and inverted passions, perpetuating ingrained habits, they never consider reforming and changing, but drift and sink along with their karma. Therefore a sūtra says: "Practicing good is like climbing up: those who rise cleanly are like the soil on a fingernail; doing evil is like a landslide: those who sink and stagnate are like the earth of the great ground." These words here are truly the utmost admonition. How is this known? It is only that the mountain of pride rises high above, looking down upon people and things; the room of the ego is shrouded on all four sides, harboring views and craving. When there is pride, there is no reality of receiving the Dharma, as the sūtra clarifies with the metaphor of a guest like an overturned vessel; the ego has the function of harboring attachments, as the treatise reveals with the meaning of taking in smoke. When the vessel is turned upward, no thought is not subdued, and once subdued, the root of pride is surely uprooted; when the room is destroyed, one returns to the great void, and where can views and craving find ground to take shape? The principle naturally holds thus. To turn one's back on this is not to be an ordinary person, and the conduct of practical matters will be accomplished; to depart from this belongs to the noble ones, whose roamings and strides adapt to converting beings. Thus it is.