佛祖統紀 40.49

40.49

The commentary states: The Changes says: "He does not serve kings and feudal lords, and holds his affairs in lofty esteem." The Records says: "Among scholars there are those who do not act as subjects to the Son of Heaven above, nor serve the feudal lords below." In the Later Han, when Wang Ruzhong was summoned to an audience with Guangwu, he called himself by his personal name and did not call himself a subject. An official asked him the reason, and he replied: "There are those whom the Son of Heaven does not treat as subjects." If Confucian scholars and recluses still know how to elevate themselves through the Way, how much more so should those who study Buddhism beyond the worldly realm and bear the name of dwelling in the field of merit? How could they serve a worldly ruler as subjects and bring pollution and humiliation upon themselves? One like Suzong may truly be said to have understood how to venerate the Śākya clan and to have deeply grasped the fundamental principle.