龍舒增廣淨土文 7.10

7.10

有惠古長老，先住舒州太平，次住浙東大剎，亦名行尊宿也。死而生於宰相家，後生登高科，世固以為榮矣。然此甚失計也。何則？前世齋戒，今世食肉，必以食肉為美矣。前世清修，今世近色欲，必以色欲為美矣。前世恬靜，今生享富貴，必以富貴為美矣。譬如入泥一步，深如一步，奈之何哉。《楞嚴經》云「聞所聞盡，盡聞不住。覺所覺空，空覺極圓。」蓋謂所聞之事盡矣，盡聞其不住也。故世間雖享快樂，其如不住何？不住則過去，過去則不能久也。又覺其所覺者皆歸於空，空則無實矣。誠能於此空而覺之，則真覺之誠極圓，而無復墜墮也。使古老而悟此理，必不住宰相家。縱未能悟明真性，且修西方以脫去輪迴可也。《楞伽經》謂，世間修行人如澄濁水，澄之雖清，未去濁脚，攪之復濁。古老之謂也。如生西方見佛得道，復來生此世界，則若刷去濁脚，純為清水雖攪之不復濁矣。故雖名行尊宿，亦不可不修西方。古老足以鑒矣。

There was Elder Huigu, who first dwelt at Taiping in Shuzhou, and later dwelt in a great monastery in eastern Zhejiang; he was also an elder monk renowned for his conduct. Upon death he was born into the family of a prime minister, and in his subsequent life passed the highest civil examination, which the world certainly considered an honor. Yet this was a great error in calculation. Why is this? In his previous life he observed the vegetarian precepts, but in this life he eats meat, and must regard eating meat as delicious. In his previous life he practiced pure cultivation, but in this life he approaches sexual desire, and must regard sexual desire as wonderful. In his previous life he was calm and tranquil, but in this life he enjoys wealth and nobility, and must regard wealth and nobility as wonderful. This is like stepping into mud: with every step, one sinks a step deeper; what can be done? The Śūraṅgama-sūtra says, "When that which is heard is exhausted, the exhaustion of hearing does not abide. When awareness and that which is awoken are emptied, the awareness of emptiness is consummate and complete." This means that the things heard are exhausted, and one exhausts hearing such that it does not abide. Therefore, although one enjoys pleasure in the world, what can one do about its non-abiding? Because it does not abide, it passes away; because it passes away, it cannot endure. Furthermore, awareness realizes that all which is awoken returns to emptiness; being empty, it has no reality. If one can truly realize awareness in this emptiness, then the sincerity of true awakening is consummate and complete, and one will never fall again. Had Elder Gu awakened to this principle, he certainly would not have remained in the prime minister's house. Even if he had not yet been able to awaken to and clarify his true nature, he could at least have cultivated [rebirth in] the West to escape transmigration. The Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra states that worldly practitioners are like settling muddy water: although settling it makes it clear, the sediment of mud has not been removed, and stirring it makes it turbid again. This refers to [someone like] Elder Gu. If one is born in the West, sees the Buddha, and attains the Way, then returning to be born in this world is like scouring away the sediment of mud: it becomes purely clear water, which will not become turbid again even if stirred. Therefore, even an elder monk renowned for his conduct cannot fail to cultivate [rebirth in] the West. Elder Gu is sufficient as a warning.