樂邦遺稿 1.77

1.77

The Master said: 'When standing, see them present before you; when in a carriage, see them leaning on the crossbar. Then you may proceed.' The Book of Han states: 'When sitting, see Yao on the wall; when eating, see Yao in the broth. The Way cannot be departed from for an instant—such is it.' Although that is so, this is merely the way within the worldly realm. The Śūraṅgama-sūtra says: 'If all sentient beings remember the Buddha and practice mindfulness of the Buddha, in the present or in the future they will certainly see the Buddha, and without relying on expedients their minds will open of themselves.' I say that in cultivating the buddhānusmṛti-samādhi, one should likewise understand the principle of 'present before you and leaning on the crossbar' and 'seeing Yao.' Walking, standing, sitting, and lying down, one should always maintain this mindfulness—what fear is there of not seeing the Buddha? This is truly the essential ford for transcending the world and attaining the Way; how could it be merely an empty fancy like seeing Yao on the wall or in the broth? On the third day of the eleventh month in the seventh year of Zhenghe, while on a boat in the territory of Fuli, upon reading Feixi's Treatise on the Precious King of Buddhānusmṛti-samādhi, I reflected on the words of our Master and of the Han history: they accord with the Buddha's words as two tallies match. I therefore recorded this in this fascicle, hoping to look upon it from time to time to spur myself on. May all who see or hear it also exert themselves! Respectfully written by Huang Bosi, Changru.