勅修百丈清規 6.16

6.16

Chan Master Wuliangshou's preface states: To escape the dust and leave the secular world, shaving the crown and donning square robes, one generally passes through monastic groves, where it is of crucial importance to comprehend the regulations clearly. If one's conduct is unversed in the standards and one's movements do not accord with the vinaya rules and deportment, even if there are good friends and virtuous companions, how would they be willing to offer deep piercing and painful prodding? When following habits forms abuses, reform is certainly difficult, causing the monastic assemblies to become desolate and turning people's minds toward negligence. Having frequently observed the faults and perils occurring before one's eyes in ordinary times, I have collected Baizhang's established rules and models from beginning to end, from morning to evening. To avoid failing at every turn, one must directly observe and follow them one by one. Only then may one dare speak of examining oneself, clarifying the mind, and understanding birth while penetrating death. Mundane phenomena are themselves supramundane phenomena. Those who wander on pilgrimage may bequeath this to those who have not yet wandered on pilgrimage, so that they might not betray their body and mind in renouncing the household life, and also collectively repay the benevolent virtue of the buddhas and patriarchs. They are respectfully set forth below.