龍舒增廣淨土文 6.52

6.52

Those of great intelligence are widely learned and have strong memories; their spoken words form literature and their written strokes become compositions. They are certainly revered and admired by the world, yet with respect to our inherent nature, it is as though this is completely irrelevant. Zhuangzi said: "What is called clear-sightedness is not seeing others, but simply seeing oneself. What is called sharp-hearing is not hearing others, but simply hearing oneself. One who does not see oneself but sees others, who does not attain oneself but attains others, attains what others attain and does not attain what one should attain; one conforms to what pleases others and does not conform to what pleases oneself." Once this [life] is cast aside, one only then realizes that what one paid attention to throughout life was of no benefit to oneself. Although the enterprises of intelligence cannot be abandoned, one ought each day to set aside a moment of spare time to direct one's mind to the Pure Land. If one thoroughly understands this principle, evil conditions will naturally lessen and wholesome conditions will naturally accumulate; already during one's lifetime there will be joy. If one turns to exhort others and has them mutually exhort and transform others, then because one's intelligence surpasses that of ordinary people yet one still believes in this principle, people will surely deem that this principle cannot be doubted. This teaching can thus spread vigorously and endure ever longer; this is also how a bodhisattva upholds this doctrine. In days to come one will surely be born in the highest grade; how could such meritorious retribution be easily measured?