萬善同歸集 3.79

3.79

答：「若志苦心堅，一向歸命，如鹿在網，若火燒頭，惟求出離之門，不顧人間之事。自古及今，亦多此等。《譬喻經》云：『昔有國王，大好道德；常行繞塔，百匝未竟，邊國王來征伐，欲奪其國。傍臣大恐怖，即白王言：「置斯旋塔，以攘重寇。」王言：「聽使兵來，我終不止。」心意如故，繞塔未竟，兵散罷去。』夫人有一心定意，無所不消也。是以河嶽不靈，惟人所感；但能志到，無往不從。至於氷池躍鱗、寒林抽筍，故非神力，志所為也。」

Answer: "If his resolve is ardent and his mind firm, taking refuge single-mindedly—like a deer caught in a net, or like someone whose head is on fire—seeking only the gate of deliverance without regard for worldly affairs, then from antiquity to the present there have also been many of this sort. The Avadāna Sūtra says: 'Formerly, there was a king who greatly delighted in the Way and virtue. He constantly circumambulated a stūpa. Before his hundred circuits were completed, the king of a neighboring country came to invade, wishing to seize his state. His attendants were terrified and at once addressed the king, saying: "Set aside this circumambulation of the stūpa to repel the formidable bandits!" The king said: "Let their troops come; I shall never stop." His intention remained as before; before his circumambulation of the stūpa was completed, the enemy troops dispersed and withdrew.' When a person has a single-minded and resolute focus, there is nothing that cannot be dissolved. Thus, rivers and mountains have no divine power of their own; it is only people's sincerity that moves them. As long as one's resolve reaches its utmost, there is nowhere it does not prevail. Even as fish leaped onto the frozen pond and bamboo shoots sprouted in the winter grove, these were certainly not due to supernatural powers, but were brought about by sincerity."