佛祖歷代通載 6.97

6.97

論曰。大覺璉禪師有云。妙道之意聖人甞遇之於易。由生民已來淳朴未散。則三皇之教簡而素。春也。及情竇日鑿。則五帝之教詳而文。夏也。時與世異情隨日遷。故三王之教密而嚴。秋也。至周衰先王之法壞禮義亡。迨為秦漢則無所不至。而天下至有不忍願聞者。於是我佛世尊之教入東土。示以性命之理。教以慈悲之行。冬也。旨哉斯言。觀澄公區區西來。當石勒季龍磣暴虓噬之際。而能憫物垂軌。示以玄言德祥。導以慈悲之行。卒使二暴革心道化融洽。於戲天有四時循環。以生成萬物。而聖人之教。迭相扶持以化成天下。厥有以哉。

The appraisal says: Chan Master Dajue Lian once said, "The meaning of the wondrous Way was once encountered by the sages in the *Changes*. Since the emergence of the people, their plain simplicity was not yet dispersed; thus the teaching of the Three Sovereigns was simple and plain—this was spring. When desires and passions daily deepened, the teaching of the Five Emperors became detailed and cultured—this was summer. As times and worldly conditions changed, passions shifted with the passing days; thus the teaching of the Three Kings was strict and rigorous—this was autumn. When the Zhou declined, the laws of the ancient kings deteriorated, and propriety and righteousness vanished; down to the Qin and Han, evil went to extremes, to the point that throughout the realm there were things people could not bear to hear. Thereupon, the teaching of our Bhagavān Buddha entered the Eastern Land, revealing the principles of original nature and life, and teaching the practice of compassion—this was winter." How profound are these words! Looking at how Master Deng simply came from the west during the violent, savage, and voracious era of Shi Le and Jilong, he was nonetheless able to pity living beings and offer guidance, revealing profound teachings and auspicious virtues, and guiding them with compassionate conduct, ultimately causing the two tyrants to reform their hearts and harmonizing spiritual conversion. Ah! Heaven has the cycle of four seasons to generate and bring to fruition the myriad things; and the teachings of the sages support one another in turns to transform and complete the world. Indeed, there is reason for this!