樂邦文類 2.177

2.177

右東海若一篇，誠為樂邦文類之冠。本朝東箂（呂祖謙）集《麗澤文粹》亦曾編入。竊恐呂公徒愛西方之文，未必履行西方之行，而作西方之歸也。嗚呼！昔人以淨土為誕妄，柳公故作斯文以譏其失。大哉！達佛旨者也。近世沮茲道者猶多，豈不愧於柳乎？愚頃過霅上，於李子濟家得東坡碑刻及跋文，乃知前輩高明亦有賞音者。今併橘洲之跋以刊之，庶發人之深信也。

The above piece, "The God of the Eastern Sea," is truly the foremost in the *Collected Writings on the Land of Bliss*. Donglai (Lü Zuqian) of our dynasty also once compiled it into the *Lize wencui*. I humbly fear that Master Lü merely loved the literary writing of the Western Direction, without necessarily putting into practice the conduct of the Western Direction so as to make it his return to the Western Direction. Alas! People of the past considered the Pure Land to be absurd and false; Master Liu therefore composed this text to ridicule their error. How great he was—one who thoroughly understood the Buddha's purport! In recent generations, those who disparage this path are still numerous; should they not feel ashamed before Liu? Recently, passing through Zhashang, I obtained Dongpo's stele inscription and colophon at the home of Li Ziji; only then did I know that among the eminent and brilliant of the elder generation, there were also those who appreciated its tone. Now, together with the colophon by Juzhou, I have it printed, hoping to arouse people's deep faith.