[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [勅修百丈清規](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025) › [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-mt) › 2.37 # 勅修百丈清規 2.37 English (machine translation) 2.37 - **Language:** English ### [2.37](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-mt.2.37) Four hundred years after Buddhism entered China, Bodhidharma arrived. After another eight transmissions it reached Baizhang. They transmitted and received only by means of the Way: whether dwelling in crags and caverns, or lodging in vinaya monasteries, there was as yet no designation of 'abbot.' Because the Chan school was flourishing ever more, and from above, sovereigns, ministers, princes, and dukes, down to Confucians, Daoists, and the hundred schools, all were drawn to its style and inquired into the Way, the disciples were truly numerous. Without exalting his position, the master's teachings would lack gravity. Thus they first honored their master as abbot, revering him as 'elder,' just as in India Śāriputra and Subhūti were designated, being revered equally for age and virtue. He built a spacious hall to house the assembly, and established the two ranks to divide the duties, whereby the institutional system shone brilliantly. As for manual labor, he still shared the toil equally with the assembly, often saying: 'A day without work is a day without food.' How could there be the wealth of overflowing granaries or the ease of carriage servants? Therefore, at first, he was chosen by common acclamation of the assembly; later, appointments were made by the government, yet there were still those who declined appointments and refused to go. Later, offices were purchased for high prices or seized by brute force, viewed as rare commodities. If it is not the right person, an entire monastery falls into ruin, leaving factional cliques behind for decades that become an entanglement impossible to manage; and often the severity of their unseen retributions is spoken of, which one can hardly bear to hear. How could one not take warning and be fearful? - [Previous: 2.36](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-mt.2.36) - [Next: 2.38](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-mt.2.38) - [Up: 2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-mt.2) ## Linked texts (1) - [勅修百丈清規](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025.2.37) — Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-mt.2.37](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-mt.2.37) · Pramāṇa