佛祖統紀 39.7

39.7

四年。靈藏律師始與帝為布衣交。及即位建大興善寺以居之。勅左右僕射。兩旦參問起居。甞陪駕洛州。歸之者眾。帝手勅曰。弟子是俗人天子。律師是道人天子。有欲離俗者任師度之。由是度人至數萬。有疑之者。帝曰。律師化人為善。朕禁人為惡。意則一也。

Fourth year. Vinaya Master Lingzang had originally been a friend in commoner's clothing with the Emperor. When the Emperor ascended the throne, he built Daxingshan Monastery for him to reside in, and ordered the Left and Right Vice Directors of the Department of State Affairs to pay respects and inquire about his well-being twice a month. Once, Lingzang accompanied the imperial retinue to Luozhou, and the crowd of people taking refuge in him was immense. The Emperor wrote a decree with his own hand saying, 'Your disciple is the Son of Heaven of laymen; the Vinaya Master is the Son of Heaven of men of the Way. Whoever wishes to renounce the lay life is left entirely to the Master to ordain.' Because of this, the people he ordained reached several tens of thousands. When someone doubted this, the Emperor said, 'The Vinaya Master transforms people to do good; We prohibit people from doing evil. The purpose is one and the same.'