摩訶止觀 7.178

7.178

若懷寶藏璧，蘊解匿名，密勤精進，必得入品，或進深品。志念堅固，無能移易，彌為勝術。但錐不處囊，難覆易露。或見講者不稱理，或見行道者不當轍；慈悲示語，即被圍繞。凡令講說，或勸為眾生，內痒外動，即說一兩句法，或示一兩節禪；初對一人，馳傳漸廣，則不得止。初謂有益，益他蓋微；廢損自行，非唯品秩不進、障道還興！象子力微，身沒刀箭；掬湯投氷，翻添氷聚。《毘婆沙》云：「破敗菩薩也。」昔鄴洛禪師名播河海，往則四方雲仰，去則千百成群，隱隱轟轟亦有何益利？臨終皆悔！武津歎曰：「一生望入銅輪，領眾太早，所求不克。」著願文云：「擇！擇！擇！擇！」高勝垂軌，可以鏡焉。

If one holds gems in one's bosom and hides one's jades, concealing understanding and keeping one's name obscure while secretly and diligently exerting vigor, one is certain to enter the ranks or advance into the deeper ranks. One's aspiration and mindfulness will be firm, and nothing can shake them; this is far more superior a method. But an awl in a bag cannot stay hidden; it is difficult to conceal and easy to expose. One may see an expositor who does not accord with the principle, or see a practitioner who is not on the right path; when one offers instruction out of compassion, one is immediately surrounded. Constantly asked to expound the teaching or urged to act for the sake of sentient beings, an itch arises within and movement begins without: one then speaks a line or two of Dharma, or demonstrates a phase or two of dhyāna. At first it is to a single person, but the transmission swiftly spreads wider, and it cannot be stopped. Initially one thought it beneficial, but the benefit to others is slight, while one's own practice is neglected and impaired. Not only do the ranks fail to advance, but obstacles to the Way arise anew! A young elephant has little strength; its body falls to knives and arrows. Pouring hot water onto ice only adds to the mass of ice. The Vibhāṣā says: '[This is] a ruined bodhisattva.' In the past, the dhyāna masters of Ye and Luoyang were famous across the rivers and seas; wherever they went, people looked up to them like gathering clouds, and when they departed, followers formed throngs of hundreds and thousands. Yet what real benefit came from that vague rumble and clatter? At the approach of death, all of them had regrets! Wujin lamented: 'All my life I hoped to enter the copper-wheel rank; but leading a congregation too early, what I sought was not achieved.' He composed a vow, writing: 'Choose! Choose! Choose! Choose!' These eminent exemplars have left a model by which one may take warning.