禪林寶訓 4.11

4.11

水菴曰。動人以言惟要深切言不深切所感必淺。人誰肯懷。昔白雲師祖送師翁住四面。叮嚀曰。祖道凌遲危如累卵。毋恣荒逸。虛喪光陰。復敗至德。當寬容量度。利物存眾。提持此事報佛祖恩。當時聞者孰不感慟。爾昨來召對宸庭。誠為法門之幸。切宜下身尊道以利濟為心。不可矜己自伐。從上先哲謙柔敬畏保身全德。不以勢位為榮。遂能清振一時美流萬世。予慮光景不長。無復面會。故此切囑（見投子書）。

Shui'an said: 'In moving people with words, the essential point is to be profound and incisive. If words are not profound and incisive, what they evoke must be shallow; who would be willing to hold them to heart? In the past, when Ancestor Baiyun saw my teacher-grandfather off to reside at Simian, he admonished him repeatedly: "The ancestral Way is declining, precarious as a stack of eggs. Do not indulge in dissipation, wasting time in vain and bringing ruin to supreme virtue. You should broaden your tolerance and measure, benefiting beings and preserving the community; uphold this great matter to repay the debt to the buddhas and patriarchs." At that time, who among the listeners was not deeply moved to tears? Yesterday, when you were summoned to audience in the imperial court, it was truly a blessing for the Dharma gate. You must humble yourself and revere the Way, taking benefit and relief as your intention. You must not boast of yourself or sing your own praises. Ancient sages of the past were modest, gentle, respectful, and cautious, preserving their persons and keeping their virtue whole; they did not consider power and status as an honour, and thus were able to shake their era with purity and let their excellence flow through myriad generations. I worry my remaining time is short and we may not meet face to face again, which is why I earnestly enjoin this upon you.' (Letter to Touzi)