律相感通傳 1.16

1.16

弟子性樂戒律，如來一代所制毘尼，並在座中聽受戒法，因問律中諸隱文義，無不決滯。然此東華，三寶素有，山海水石往往多現，但謂其靈而敬之，顧訪來由，莫知投詣，遂因此緣，隨而咨請。且泛舉文相，以理括之，未曾博觀，不可以語也。余少樂多聞希世拔俗之典籍，故《搜神》、《研神》、《冥祥》、《冥報》、《旌異》、《述異》、《志怪》、《錄幽》，曾經閱之，非疑慮。況佛布天人之說，心進勇銳之文，護助形神，守持城塔，事出前聞，非為徒說。後諸緣敘，並依出而疏之。

Your disciple by nature delights in the precepts and vinaya. The Vinaya instituted by the Tathāgata during his lifetime—I was seated within the assembly and received the precept rules; therefore, when asking about various obscure texts and meanings in the Vinaya, there were none in which stagnant doubts were not resolved. However, in this Eastern Land, the Three Jewels have long existed; they frequently manifest among mountains, seas, waters, and rocks, but people merely consider them spiritual and revere them; when inquiring into their origins, no one knows where to turn. Thus, following these circumstances, I inquired of them accordingly. Furthermore, I generally raise textual aspects and summarize them with principle; if one has not observed broadly, one cannot speak of them. In my youth, I delighted in hearing much of texts that were rare in the world and stood out from the vulgar; hence the Soushen, Yanshen, Mingxiang, Mingbao, Jingyi, Shuyi, Zhiguai, and Luyou—I have examined them all, and hold no doubts. How much more so with the Buddha's distribution of devas' accounts, texts of courageous and vigorous mind, aiding the body and spirit, and guarding cities and pagodas—these matters have been heard of previously and are not mere empty talk. The various subsequent accounts of conditions are all recorded and commented upon in accordance with what emerged.