佛祖統紀 47.58

47.58

In the seventh year, Chan Master Baoyin of Xuedou in Mingzhou was summoned to an imperial audience. The Emperor asked: 'The sages of the three teachings fundamentally share this principle.' The Master said: 'It is like empty space, which originally has neither south nor north.' The Emperor said: 'Only the schools they establish differ. Therefore Confucius set forth his teaching through the Doctrine of the Mean.' The Master said: 'Without the Mean, how could the mundane realm be established? The Avataṃsaka says: "Without destroying worldly characteristics, one accomplishes supramundane dharmas."' The Emperor said: 'Scholars of the present day merely look at the words and do not know the Master's mind.' The Master said: 'Not only modern scholars; even in his time, though Yanzi had a full grasp, he could only speak of: "Looking up to it, it is before me; suddenly it is behind me; as if something stood upright aloft." This too was not sufficient to know the Master's mind. The Master also said: "Do you disciples think I conceal anything from you? I conceal nothing from you." Seeing it from this, even his disciples at that time still did not know the Master's mind, how much less people of today? Zhang Shangying said: "Only after I studied Buddhism was I able to understand Confucianism."' The Emperor said: 'Our intention has always held this view.' The Emperor asked further: 'What of the teachings of Laozi and Zhuangzi?' The Master said: 'They can only be compared to followers of the Hīnayāna within Buddhism. The Hīnayāna abhors the body like fetters and shuns wisdom like mixed poison, transforming into fire to incinerate the body and enter the unconditioned realm. This is just like Zhuangzi's "the body can indeed be made like dried wood, and the mind can indeed be made like dead ashes," and Laozi's "My greatest distress is having a body." Followers of the Mahāyāna are not like this. Only when they have saved all sentient beings do they realize bodhi. This is just as Yi Yin said: "I am one who has first awakened among Heaven's people; I will use this Way to awaken this people. If there is a single man who has not received its blessing, it is as if I had pushed him into a ditch."' The Emperor was greatly pleased. On that very day, he decreed that he reside at Jingshan. ○ An edict ordered Chan Master Fozhao Deguang to reside at Mount Ayuwang. In the eleventh month, he was summoned to an audience in the inner palace. [The Emperor] bestowed the four characters 'Hall of Wondrous Triumph' as the nameplate for the Śākyamuni Relic Hall.