宗鏡錄 100.15

100.15

答。我若自語。一切茫然。罔措津涯。豈有申問之處。設祖佛之教。皆是隨他意語。曲順時機。是以世尊言。三世諸佛所說之法。吾四十九年不加一字。又經云。先佛己說。後佛隨順。若能如是了達。則知佛語是自語。自語是佛語。故本師云。一切外道經書。皆是佛說。非外道說。又云。釋迦如來語。提婆達多語。無二無別。若於此不信不明。皆成二見。常縈分別凡聖之想。恒生取捨自他之情。欲紹吾宗。無有是處。

Answer: If I were to speak my own words, all would be at a total loss, finding nowhere to anchor. How could there even be a place to raise a question? Even the teachings of the patriarchs and Buddhas are all words spoken in accordance with the minds of others, accommodating the capacities of the time. Thus the World-Honoured One said: 'Regarding the Dharma expounded by the Buddhas of the three periods of time, in forty-nine years I have not added a single word.' Furthermore, a sūtra states: 'What preceding Buddhas have already spoken, subsequent Buddhas follow.' If one can comprehend in this way, one will know that the Buddha's words are one's own words, and one's own words are the Buddha's words. Therefore our Fundamental Teacher said: 'All the scriptures of non-Buddhists are the spoken word of the Buddha, not the spoken word of non-Buddhists.' He also said: 'The words of Śākyamuni Tathāgata and the words of Devadatta are without duality and without distinction.' If one has no faith and no clarity regarding this, it will entirely become dualistic views: one will constantly be entangled in thoughts distinguishing ordinary from sage, and forever produce feelings of accepting or rejecting self and other. To wish to inherit our source in this way is utterly impossible.