筠州洞山悟本禪師語錄 1.177

1.177

吾與汝夙有因緣，始結母子恩愛情分。自從懷孕禱神佛，願生男兒。胞胎月滿，性命絲懸，得遂愿心，如珠寶惜，糞穢不嫌於臭惡，乳哺不倦於辛勤。稍自成人，遂令習學，或暫逾時不歸，便作倚門之望。來書堅要出家，父亡母老，兄薄弟寒，吾何依賴？子有拋孃之意，孃無捨子之心，一自汝住他方，日夜常洒悲淚。苦哉！苦哉！今既誓不還鄉，即得從汝志，不敢望汝如王祥臥氷、丁蘭刻木，但如目蓮尊者度我，下脫沈淪、上登佛果。如其不然，幽譴有在，切宜體悉。

You and I had causes and conditions from past lives, beginning this bond of mother and son with mutual love and affection. Ever since conceiving, I prayed to the gods and Buddhas, wishing to give birth to a boy. When the months in the womb were full, my life hung by a thread; having attained the fulfillment of my wish, I treasured you like a precious pearl. I did not loathe the stench and filth of excrement, nor did I tire of the arduous toil of suckling. As soon as you grew into a youth, I had you study; if you were away for just a short while and did not return, I would lean against the door and gaze out. Your letter comes stubbornly insisting on leaving home. Your father is dead and your mother is old; your elder brother is frail and your younger brother is poor—upon whom can I rely? A son has the mind to abandon his mother, but a mother has no mind to forsake her son. Ever since you went to live in another region, day and night I constantly shed sorrowful tears. How bitter! How bitter! Now, since you have vowed never to return home, you may have your wish. I dare not hope that you will be like Wang Xiang lying on the ice, or Ding Lan carving wood; only that you be like the Venerable Maudgalyāyana delivering me, so that below I escape submersion, and above I ascend to the fruit of Buddhahood. If it is not so, unseen retribution awaits you; you must thoroughly understand this.