廬山蓮宗寶鑑 10.53

10.53

余甞觀夫今之所謂崇蓮宗者，多不本遠祖之意。非惟夫其進修之序，亦且惑於邪師謬解，深恨未有能救其弊者。優曇大師乃採經論傳記，至於古今名儒宿衲，集諸善言刪潤著述而成一書，凡十卷，曰蓮宗寶鑑，立正論以破邪說，發真智以祛妄情。其言理也深而明，其敘事也詳而盡，會三教而歸一源、正一已以規眾信，如鏡照像，洞然明白。豈特俾諸善流專念彌陀祈生淨土，直欲人人明自本心見自本性立地成佛而已。以余甞主東林，欲求轉語為證，返復數過，真得我心之所同然者，乃合掌西嚮而歸之曰：善哉善哉！如是如是。旹乙巳大德八年八月十五日，明州天童圓應叟淨日題。

I have often observed that those of today who claim to uphold the Lotus School mostly fail to base themselves on the intention of the founding Patriarch Yuan. Not only [do they err regarding] the sequence of their progressive practice, but they are also deluded by the erroneous interpretations of heterodox teachers, so that I deeply regret that no one has been able to remedy these shortcomings. Great Master Youtan has thereupon gathered from the sūtras, treatises, biographies, and records, down to famous Confucians and veteran monks of ancient and modern times, collecting their fine words, polishing and editing them into a work in ten fascicles entitled *Precious Mirror of the Lotus School*. He establishes correct arguments to refute heterodox theories, and brings forth true wisdom to eliminate false sentiments. Its discussion of principle is profound and luminous; its narration of matters is detailed and exhaustive. It brings the three teachings together to return to a single source, and rectifies oneself to admonish the multitude of the faithful—like a mirror reflecting images, completely lucid and clear. How could it merely enable the streams of good people to single-mindedly practice buddhānusmṛti to seek rebirth in the Pure Land? It directly seeks to have everyone understand their fundamental mind, see their own nature, and become a Buddha on the spot, nothing less. As I once presided over Donglin and sought a turning word as confirmation, I went over it several times; it truly attained what my own mind agreed with. Thereupon, joining my palms toward the west, I took refuge in it, saying: 'Excellent, excellent! Thus it is, thus it is!' On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, the *yisi* year, the eighth year of Dade [1304 CE], inscribed by Old Man Yuanying, Jingri of Tiantong in Mingzhou.