禪林寶訓 4.49

4.49

Huo'an said, "The Way and virtue are the root of the monastic grove; patch-robed monks are the root of the Way and virtue. For an abbot to cast aside and dislike patch-robed monks is to forget the Way and virtue. Once the Way and virtue are forgotten, how will he cultivate instruction and transformation, regulate the monastic grove, and entice future students? The ancients embodied the root to correct the branches; they worried that the Way and virtue would not be practiced, not that the monastic grove would lose its place. Therefore it is said: 'The monastic grove is preserved by patch-robed monks; patch-robed monks are preserved by the Way and virtue.' If an abbot lacks the Way and virtue, then the monastic grove falls into ruin." (Seen in the letter to Jiantang)