禪林寶訓 3.63

3.63

Ven. Wan'an Yan said: “Lately I have seen that the monastic groves are utterly devoid of seasoned and mature men. Wherever one goes, with three or five hundred monks, one person acts as master, while many serve as companions; usurping the throne of the Dharma King, they pick up the mallet and raise the fly-whisk, deceiving one another. Even if there are discourses, they do not touch upon canonical standards; it is only natural that there are no seasoned men! Appearing in the world to benefit living beings and propagating the transformation on behalf of the Buddha—unless one's mind is clear, the origin is penetrated, and practice and understanding correspond—who would dare to undertake it? For instance, if someone falsely claims to be an emperor, he brings execution and destruction upon himself; how much more so for the Dharma King—how could one falsely usurp it? Alas, as we grow further from the sages, those belonging to the flock of the Water-Crane again run rampant, causing the ancient sages' gate of transformation to sink into ruin day by day. How could I wish to remain silent? Living in my hermitage with nothing to do, I have set forth one or two of the worst things that harm customs and ruin teachings, circulating them in the monastic grove so that later generations and newcomers may know how the predecessors were cautious and conscientious, taking the bearing of the great Dharma as their concern, as though walking on thin ice or treading a sword's edge, not casually seeking name or gain. Whether they understand me or condemn me, I have no excuses (Zhilin ji).”