[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [佛祖歷代通載](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2036) › 5.53 # 佛祖歷代通載 5.53 佛祖歷代通載 5.53 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [5.53](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2036.5.53) 問曰。夫福莫踰於繼嗣。不孝莫過於無後。沙門棄妻子捐貨財終身不娶。何違其福孝之行也。自苦而無奇。自拯而無異矣。牟子曰。夫長左者必短右。大前者必狹後。孟公綽為趙魏老則優。不可以為滕薛大夫。妻子財物世之餘也。清躬無為道之妙也。老子曰。名與身孰親。身與貨孰多。又曰。觀三代之遺風。覽乎儒墨之道術。誦詩書修禮節。崇仁義視清潔。鄉人傳業名譽洋溢。此中士所施行。恬惔者所不恤。故前有隋珠後有虓虎。見之走而不敢取何也。先其命而後其利也。許由栖巢木。夷齊餓首陽。聖孔稱其賢曰。求仁得仁者也。不聞譏其無後無貨也。沙門修道德。以易遊世之樂反淑賢以貸妻子之歡。是不為奇孰與為奇。是不為異孰與為異哉。 > The questioner asked: "Now, of blessings, none surpasses continuing the lineage; of unfiliality, none exceeds having no descendants. The śramaṇas abandon wife and children, renounce goods and wealth, and do not marry to the end of their days. Why do they violate the conduct of blessing and filiality? They bring bitterness upon themselves with no extraordinary merit, and seek their own salvation with nothing remarkable." Master Mou said: "One who is long on the left must be short on the right; one who is grand in front must be narrow behind. Meng Gongchuo was more than qualified to be an elder of Zhao and Wei, but could not be an officer of Teng and Xue. Wife, children, goods, and wealth are the superfluities of the world; purifying one's person and dwelling in non-action are the subtleties of the Way. Laozi said: 'Which is closer to you, your fame or your person? Which is worth more, your person or your wealth?' It is also said: 'Observe the remaining customs of the Three Dynasties, examine the arts of the Way of the Confucians and Mohists: reciting the Shijing and Shujing, cultivating rites and etiquette, esteeming benevolence and righteousness, and attending to purity and integrity; their townsmen transmit their enterprises, and their fame and reputation overflow. These are what mediocre scholars practice, but what the tranquil and detached do not care about.' Thus, if Sui's pearl lies before you and a roaring tiger is behind you, and seeing this, you flee without daring to take the pearl, why is that? It is putting one's life first and one's gain second. Xu You nested in a tree; Boyi and Shuqi starved at Shouyang. The sage Confucius praised their worthiness, saying: 'They sought benevolence and obtained benevolence.' We have never heard that they were mocked for having no descendants or having no goods. The śramaṇas cultivate the Way and its virtue, exchanging the pleasures of wandering through the world and trading the joys of wife and children for purity and goodness. If this is not considered extraordinary, what could be extraordinary? If this is not considered remarkable, what could be remarkable?" > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 5.52](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2036.5.52) - [Next: 5.54](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2036.5.54) - [Up: 5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2036.5) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2036~en-mt.5.53) — English, machine translation ## Linked texts (2) - [折疑論](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2118.2.222) — Classical Chinese - [弘明集](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102.1.15) — 僧祐, Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2036.5.53](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2036.5.53) · Pramāṇa