國清百錄 4.35

4.35

吉藏啟景。上至奉師慈旨不勝踊躍，久願伏膺甘露頂戴法橋。吉藏自顧慵訥不堪指授，但佛日將沈群生眼滅，若非大師弘忍何以剋興。伏願廣布慈雲啟發蒙滯，吉藏謹當竭愚奉稟誨誘，窮此形命遠至來劫。伏願大師密垂加授。夏亦竟即馳覲，今行遣智照諮問。謹啟。

Jizang writes respectfully: When the above reached me, I received our teacher's kind message with boundless leaping joy; for a long time I have wished to submit my mind to the sweet dew [of your teaching] and to wear the bridge of the Dharma upon my head. I look upon myself as sluggish and clumsy of speech, unworthy of your instruction; but the sun of the Buddha is about to set, and the eyes of the flock of living beings are being extinguished. If not for the Great Master's vast patience and forbearance, how could [the teaching] be successfully revived? I pray you will spread the clouds of compassion far and wide to awaken the benighted and obstructed. I shall certainly exhaust my foolish self to receive and uphold your guidance and encouragement, exhausting this bodily life and reaching far into future kalpas. I pray the Great Master will secretly confer your transmission and blessing upon me. As soon as the summer retreat ends, I shall hasten to pay my respects; for now I dispatch Zhizhao to make inquiries. Respectfully submitted.