禪林寶訓 3.46

3.46

妙喜曰。古人見善則遷。有過則改。率德循行思免無咎。所患莫甚於不知其惡。所美莫善於好聞其過。然豈古人之才智不足識見不明。而若是耶。誠欲使後世自廣而狹於人者為戒也。夫叢林之廣四海之眾。非一人所能獨知。必資左右耳目思慮。乃能盡其義理善其人情。苟或尊居自重謹細務忽大體。賢者不知不肖者不察事之非不改。事或是不從。率意狂為無所忌憚。此誠禍害之基。安得不懼。或左右果無可諮詢者。猶宜取法於先聖。豈可如嚴城堅兵無自而入耶。此殆非所謂納百川而成大海也（與寶和尚書）。

Miaoxi said: “When the ancients saw good they moved toward it, and when they had faults they corrected them; following virtue and minding conduct, they sought to be free from blame. There is no affliction greater than not knowing one's own faults, and no excellence better than being pleased to hear one's own mistakes. Yet was it that the ancients' talent and wisdom were insufficient, or their discernment unclear, that they acted thus? It was truly to serve as a warning for later generations who think highly of themselves and look down on others. Indeed, the expanse of a monastic grove and the multitudes of the four seas cannot be known solely by a single person. One must rely on the ears, eyes, and thoughts of those around oneself; only then can one fully realize right principles and harmonize human feelings. If an abbot dwells in a venerable position, prizes himself, is meticulous in petty details while neglecting the overarching structure, fails to recognize the worthy and examine the unworthy, does not correct what is wrong, fails to follow what is right, and acts willfully and rashly without fear or restraint, this is truly the foundation of disaster—how could one not be afraid? Even if there is indeed no one around to consult, one should still take the ancient sages as a model. How could one be like a fortified city with rigid defenses where nothing can enter? This is hardly what is called receiving a hundred rivers to become a great ocean” (Letter to Upādhyāya Bao).