佛祖歷代通載 11.34

11.34

（二十　辛丑）　十五年五月戊辰。帝幸宏福寺。召大德道懿等五人賜座。諭以剏寺為專一追崇穆太后。言發涕零。懿及左右皆哽咽逡巡。自製疏施絹二百疋。自稱皇帝菩薩戒弟子。令回向罷。顧謂道懿等曰。頃以老子是朕先宗。故令名位在前。卿等應恨恨也。道懿曰。陛下尊祖宗降成式。懿等蒙荷國恩安閑學道。詔旨初下咸皆歡悅。詎敢有恨。帝曰。尊祖重親有生之大本。故先老子以別親疎之序。非不留心於佛也。自有國以來。未甞剏立道觀。凡有功德並歸僧舍。雖往日操戈臨陣。亦未始縱威濫殺。今所在戰場皆立佛寺。至於太原舊第亦以奉佛。朕存心如此。卿等想未諭也。道懿等遽起趨謝。帝曰。少坐。此是朕意。不述則人不知。天時向熱。寺宇未備。今所施可別造經寮令僧眾寬展行道。

([Year] 20, xinchou [641 CE]) In the fifteenth year, in the fifth month on the wuchen day, the Emperor visited Hongfu Monastery. He summoned five elders of great virtue including Daoyi, granted them seats, and explained that the founding of the monastery was solely to honor the late Empress Mu in memoriam. As he spoke, tears fell; Yi and those around him all choked back sobs and hesitated. The Emperor personally composed a prayer text, offered two hundred bolts of silk, styled himself "the disciple of the bodhisattva precepts, the Emperor," and ordered the dedication of merit. When this was finished, he turned to Daoyi and the others, saying: "Recently, because Laozi is Our ancestral house, We ordered his name and rank to take precedence. You gentlemen must feel resentment." Daoyi said: "Your Majesty honors your ancestors and hands down established models; we, Daoyi and the others, receive the state's grace and peacefully study the Way. When the edict was first issued, all rejoiced; how could we dare harbor resentment?" The Emperor said: "Honoring ancestors and cherishing parents is the great root of living beings. Therefore We placed Laozi first to distinguish the order of close and distant kin; it was not that We do not keep Our mind on the Buddha. Since the founding of the state, We have never established a Daoist abbey; all merit and virtue have been dedicated to Buddhist dwellings. Although in former days We wielded weapons and faced battle arrays, We never gave rein to violence to kill indiscriminately. Now, wherever there were battlefields, Buddhist temples have been erected; even Our old residence in Taiyuan has been dedicated to Buddhism. With Our mind set in this way, you gentlemen probably did not understand." Daoyi and the others hastily arose and stepped forward to express thanks. The Emperor said: "Sit for a moment. This is Our intention; if not explained, people would not know. The season is turning hot, and the monastic buildings are not yet complete. What has now been bestowed may be used to build a separate scripture hall, so that the assembly of monks may have ample room to practice the Way."