佛祖歷代通載 7.70

7.70

出家則是方外之賓。迹絕於物。其為教也。達患累緣於有身。不存身以息患。知生生由於稟化。不順化以求宗。求宗不由於順化。則不重運通之資。息患不由於存身。則不貴厚生之益。此理之與形乖。道之與俗反者也。若斯人者因誓始於落簪。立志形乎變服。是故凡在出家。皆遯世以求其志。變俗以達其道。變俗則章服不得與世典同禮。遯世則宜高尚其迹。夫然故能拯溺俗於沈流。拔幽根於重劫。遠通三乘之津。廣開天人之路。如令一夫全德。則道洽六親澤流天下。雖不處王侯之位。亦已協契皇極在宥生民矣。是故內乖天屬之重。而不違其孝。外闕奉主之恭而不失其敬。從此而觀。故知超化表以尋宗。則理深而義篤。照太息以語仁。則功末而惠淺。若然者雖將面冥山而游步。猶惑恥聞其風。豈況與夫順化之民尸祿之賢。同其孝敬者哉。

Those who leave the household are guests outside the worldly realm; their traces are severed from mundane things. As for their teaching, they understand that suffering and burden stem from having a body, so they do not preserve the body to quell suffering; they know that continuous rebirth stems from undergoing transformation, so they do not follow transformation to seek the Ultimate. Since seeking the Ultimate does not proceed by following transformation, they do not value the support of worldly fortunes; since quelling suffering does not proceed by preserving the body, they do not cherish the benefits of enriching life. Here, principle diverges from bodily form, and the Way opposes worldly custom. People such as these initiate their vows with the removal of the hairpin and manifest their resolve through the alteration of dress. Therefore, all who leave the household withdraw from the world to pursue their aspiration and alter their customs to attain their Way. Altering customs, their vestments cannot share the same rituals as worldly standards; withdrawing from the world, their conduct must be exalted. Because they are like this, they can rescue the drowning world from the sinking flow and uproot dark roots through countless kalpas, opening far the ford of the three vehicles and broadly clearing the path for devas and humans. If a single person perfects virtue, his Way pervades the six kin and his beneficence flows through all under heaven. Although he does not occupy the station of kings and lords, he already harmonizes with the August Ultimate and shelters the living people. Therefore, inwardly he departs from the gravity of natural kin without violating filial piety, and outwardly he lacks the deference of serving the ruler without losing reverence. Looking at it from this perspective, we know that transcending the realm of transformation to seek the Ultimate means principle is deep and righteousness is earnest; shining merely with deep sighs to speak of humaneness means merit is minor and benevolence is shallow. If so, even if one were to face the dark mountains and wander freely, one would still feel ashamed to hear such worldly style; how much less could one share the same filial piety and reverence as subjects who follow the worldly order and officials who merely hold sinecures!