國清百錄 2.37

2.37

皇帝敬問光宅寺智顗禪師。朕於佛教敬信情重。往者周武之時毀壞佛法，發心立願必許護持。及受命於天，仍即興復，仰憑神力法輪重轉，十方眾生俱獲利益。比以有陳虐亂殘暴，東南百姓勞役不勝其苦，故命將出師為民除害。吳越之地今得廓清，道俗乂安深稱朕意。朕尊崇正法救濟蒼生，欲令福田永存、津梁無極。師既已離世網，修己化人，必希獎進僧伍固守禁戒，使見者欽服聞即生善，方副大道之心，是為出家之業。若身從道服、心染俗塵，非直含生之類無所歸依，仰恐妙法之門更來謗讟。宜相勸勵以同朕心。春日漸暄，道體如宜也。開皇十年正月十六日。內史令安平公臣李德林。宣內史侍郎武安子臣李元操。奉內史舍人裴矩行。

The Emperor respectfully inquires after Dhyāna Master Zhiyi of Guangzhai Monastery. We hold deep respect and faith in the Buddhist teachings. Formerly, during the time of Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou when the Buddha-Dharma was destroyed, We made a resolve and vowed that We must protect and maintain it. When We received the Mandate from Heaven, We thereupon revived it; reverently relying on divine power, the wheel of the Dharma turned anew, and sentient beings of the ten directions all obtained benefit. Recently, because the Chen dynasty was cruel, chaotic, and tyrannical, so that the common people of the southeast could not endure the bitter toil, We therefore ordered generals and dispatched troops to eliminate harm for the people. The region of Wu and Yue has now been cleared and pacified, and monastics and laypeople are settled in peace, which deeply accords with Our intent. We revere the true Dharma and succour the populace, wishing that the field of merit may endure forever and the ford and bridge be limitless.

Master, since you have already left the worldly net to cultivate yourself and transform others, We sincerely hope that you will encourage and advance the ranks of the Saṅgha to strictly maintain the prohibitive precepts, causing those who see them to submit in reverence and those who hear to immediately generate goodness; only then will you fulfill the mind of the Great Way, and this constitutes the vocation of renunciation. If the body wears the clerical robes while the mind is tainted by secular dust, not only will sentient beings have nowhere to take refuge, but We also fear that slanders will once again be cast upon the gate of the wondrous Dharma. You ought to mutually exhort one another so as to align with Our intent. The spring days are growing gradually warmer; is your religious person comfortable? Sixteenth day of the first month of the tenth year of Kaihuang. Li Delin, Lord of Anping and President of the Chancellery, prostrated himself to report. Li Yuancao, Master of the Hall and Vice Director of the Chancellery, proclaimed it. Pei Ju, Drafter of the Chancellery, executed it.