禪林寶訓 1.26

1.26

Master Yuan said: "The wise and the foolish, the worthy and the unworthy, are like water and fire in different vessels, or winter and summer in different seasons—their native allotments differ. The worthy and wise are pure, refined, upright, and generous; they plan with the Way, virtue, benevolence, and righteousness. In speaking and acting, their only fear is not according with human sentiments or not comprehending the principles of things. The unworthy are treacherous, perilous, deceitful, and fawning; they boast of themselves and display their abilities; they crave desires and illicit gains, disregarding everything. Therefore, when a Chan monastery secures worthy individuals, the Way and virtue are cultivated, guidelines and order are established, and a seat of Dharma is thereby realized. If an unworthy person is mixed in among them, he stirs up the crowd, brings chaos to the assembly, and leaves inside and outside in unease. Even if there were great wisdom and the rites and rules, what use would they be? Such is the difference in superiority and inferiority between the wise and the foolish, the worthy and the unworthy. How could one not choose carefully?" (From A Letter to Venerable Fang of Huili).