樂邦遺稿 2.39

2.39

龍舒曰：「參禪取大悟，不肯修西方。如人有一品官而不受，必欲修學為大魁。其志甚美，然大魁不可必得。不如且受一官，然後一面修學，如得大魁，則錦上添花。若不得，則不失其為官人。修西方者，且受一官之謂也。一面修學，兼參禪之謂也。不得大魁者，參禪未悟之謂也。不失其為官人者，直脫輪迴之謂也。既生西方，烏有不大悟者哉？」

Longshu said: 'Aiming for great awakening in investigating Chan and being unwilling to cultivate the West is like someone who has an official post of the first rank but refuses it, insisting on studying to become the top civil exam graduate. Their aspiration is very fine, yet the top ranking cannot be guaranteed. It is better to temporarily accept an official post, and then study on the side; if one achieves the top ranking, it adds brocade to flowers. If one does not, one does not lose being an official. Cultivating the West refers to temporarily accepting an official post. Studying on the side refers to concurrently investigating Chan. Not achieving the top ranking refers to investigating Chan without awakening. Not losing being an official refers to directly escaping transmigration. Once born in the West, how could one fail to attain great awakening?'