佛祖統紀 47.40

47.40

In the first year of Qiandao, in the second month: Dharma Master Zilin of Lingshan was summoned for an imperial audience. The Emperor asked: 'We wish to read scriptures; which are the most essential?' The Master said: 'The Diamond and Perfect Enlightenment are the most essential paths.' He also asked about the method of Chan investigation. The Master said: 'One must directly awaken for oneself.' The Emperor was pleased, and bestowed the title Cishou. In the second month, because the Princess of Zheng had left the household, an imperial edict decreed that if officials or commoners insulted monks and nuns or cursed them with the word "bald", in accordance with the Xiangfu and Xuanhe imperial edicts, ranked officials would be suspended from office and commoners exiled one thousand li. The prefectures and commanderies throughout the realm were instructed to post notices everywhere to make this known, and monks and nuns were permitted to copy the white command and carry it with their ordination certificates as permanent official proof. Regarding offenses committed by monks and nuns, official offices were not permitted to handle them privately, but had to memorialize to request an imperial edict to carry out execution.