廬山蓮宗寶鑑 1.63

1.63

佛為三界大師、法是群生眼目、僧乃六和上士，並為真淨福田，背之則邪、順之則正，神功莫並、聖力難思，除苦如藥鼓落鏃、脫難若霜劍突圍，變苦為樂而剎那、革凡成聖而頃刻。是以火車相現，歸依而便獲清涼；地獄將臨，稱念而悉皆離苦。普明與諸王免難，空定功焉；帝釋却頂生之威，般若力也。所以信心佛子歸依三寶，真慈香花供養於佛僧，讀誦流通於法寶，集茲善利迴向菩提，普暨眾生同生淨土。不見道：頻伽鸚鵡稱念而得生西方，諸天帝王欽敬而誓求聖道，皆能上成佛果、下脫苦輪，可謂禪是大溈詩是朴，大唐天子只三人。

The Buddha is the great teacher of the three realms, the Dharma is the eyes of all living beings, and the Saṅgha comprises the superior persons of the six harmonies; together they are the true and pure field of merit. To turn against them is heterodoxy; to accord with them is rectitude. Their spiritual potency is without equal, and their holy power is inconceivable. Eradicating suffering is like the medicinal drum that causes arrowheads to fall out; escaping calamities is like a frosted blade breaking through an encirclement. Turning suffering into joy takes but an instant, and transforming the ordinary into the holy takes only a moment. Therefore, when the fiery chariot appears, taking refuge immediately brings cool refreshment; when hell is about to befall, invoking their names causes one to leave suffering completely behind. That King Puming and the other kings escaped calamity was the merit of empty concentration; that Śakra repelled the might of Mandhātṛ was the power of prajñā. Therefore, faithful Buddhist disciples take refuge in the Three Jewels, make offerings to the Buddha and Saṅgha with incense and flowers of true compassion, read, recite, and disseminate the Dharma jewel, and gather these good benefits to dedicate toward bodhi, that all sentient beings may be born together in the Pure Land. Have you not heard: Kalaviṅkas and parrots obtained birth in the Western Realm by reciting the name; devas and kings revered them and vowed to seek the holy path. All are able above to accomplish the fruit of buddhahood, and below to escape the wheel of suffering. It may indeed be said: 'Chan belongs to Dahui, poetry to Daozhi; / The Tang emperors were only three.'