律相感通傳 1.132

1.132

彼云：「豈唯一所，今重幽求，南方大有。初昔宋求那跋摩於蔡州立壇，晉竺法汰於瓦官寺立壇，晉支道林於石城、沃州各立一壇，晉支法領於若耶謝敷隱處立壇，竺道壹於洞庭山立壇，竺道生於吳中虎丘寺立壇，宋智嚴於上定林寺立壇，宋慧觀於石梁寺立壇，齊僧敷於蕪湖立壇，梁法超於南㵎立壇，梁僧祐於上雲居、栖霞、歸善、愛敬四處立壇，今荊州四層寺剎基、長沙剎基、大明寺前湖中並是戒壇。今以事斷江左渝州已，下迄于江淮之南，通計戒壇總有三百餘所，山東、河北、關內、劍南戒壇事不絕故。使江表佛法經今四五百年，曾不退廢，由戒壇也。戒為佛法之初源，本立而不可傾也。自此河之左右曾不聞名，由此佛法三被誅殄。又江漢之南，山川秀麗綺錯，見便忘返者，土地之然也。人依外報，故使情智聰敏，形心勇銳，遂能詳度佛教，深有可依，無所疑慮，不可忘廢也。中原兩河，晉代南度之後，分為一十六國，以武猛相陵，佛法三除，並是北狄之胤。本非文地，隨心即斷，曾未大觀，豈不然乎？戒壇之舉，住持之成相也。眾僧說戒、受戒，咸往登之，事訖東迴左轉，南出而返也。」

He said: "How could there be only one place? If one inquires deeply now, the South has a great many. Formerly, Guṇavarman of the Song established a platform at Caizhou; Zhu Fatai of the Jin established a platform at Waguan Monastery; Zhi Daolin of the Jin established one platform each at Shicheng and Wozhou; Zhi Faling of the Jin established a platform at the hermitage of Xie Fu in Ruoye; Zhu Daoyi established a platform at Dongting Mountain; Zhu Daosheng established a platform at Huqiu Monastery in Wu; Zhiyan of the Song established a platform at Upper Dinglin Monastery; Huiguan of the Song established a platform at Shiliang Monastery; Sengfu of the Qi established a platform at Wuhu; Fachao of the Liang established a platform at Nanjian; Sengyou of the Liang established platforms at four places: Upper Yunju, Qixia, Guishan, and Aijing. At present, the stupa foundation of Sitseng Monastery in Jingzhou, the stupa foundation of Changsha, and the lake in front of Daming Monastery are all ordination platforms. Judging from matters now, from Yuzhou in the Jiangzuo region downward to south of the Yangtze and Huai rivers, counting all together, there are more than three hundred ordination platforms in total; and in Shandong, Hebei, Guannei, and Jiannan, the practice of ordination platforms has never ceased. The reason the Buddha-Dharma in the Jiangbiao region has not declined or been abandoned for four or five hundred years up to now is due to the ordination platforms. Precepts are the original source of the Buddha-Dharma: once the root is established, it cannot be toppled. To the left and right of this Yellow River, people had never even heard their names; consequently, the Buddha-Dharma suffered destruction three times. Furthermore, south of the Yangtze and Han rivers, the mountains and rivers are magnificent and intricately beautiful, causing those who see them to forget about returning; this is due to the nature of the land. Because humans rely on external retributions, their intellect and discernment are keen and perceptive, and their bodies and minds are bold and sharp; thus, they are able to examine thoroughly the Buddha's teachings, finding deep grounds to rely upon without doubt or misgiving, so that they cannot be forgotten or abandoned. As for the Central Plains and the Two Rivers, after the Jin dynasty crossed south, they were divided into sixteen kingdoms that encroached upon each other through military ferocity; the three eliminations of the Buddha-Dharma were all by descendants of the Northern Di tribes. Originally not a land of culture, they made decisions arbitrarily according to their impulses, never taking the broad view—how could it not be so? The raising of an ordination platform is the completed aspect of the upholding [of the Dharma]. When the saṅgha recites the precepts and confers ordination, they all proceed to ascend it; when the matter is finished, they turn east and circle left, exiting south to return."