[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) › [釋氏稽古略](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037) › 2.121 # 釋氏稽古略 2.121 釋氏稽古略 2.121 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [2.121](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037.2.121) 宋帝詔促求那跋摩尊者（中印度人）赴京。至是正月至建康引對。文帝迓勞殊勤問以佛道。一日問曰。寡人常欲持齋不殺。以身應物不獲所。願師幸教之。尊者曰。道在心不在事。法由己不由人。且帝王所修與匹夫異。匹夫倘不克己苦節。何以為用。帝王以四海為家。萬民為主。出一嘉言則士庶咸悅。布一善政則人神以和。刑不夭命。役不勞力。則風雨時若百穀滋繁。以此持齋。齋亦大矣。以此不殺。利亦多矣。安在輟半日之飡至一禽之命然後為弘濟耶。須貽勤儉爾。帝撫几嘆曰。俗迷遠理。僧滯近教。如師之言可論天人之際矣。帝自是尊之為師。命居祇洹寺供給隆厚繼。於寺講法華經并十地品。帝率公卿日集座下以聽法。法席之盛前此未有也（弘明集）。 > The Song Emperor issued an edict urging the Venerable Guṇavarman (a native of Central India) to hasten to the capital. In the first month of this year, he reached Jiankang and was granted an audience. Emperor Wen welcomed and consoled him with exceptional diligence, questioning him about the Buddhist Path. One day, he asked: 'I have constantly wished to observe the fasts and refrain from killing, yet, with my person responding to affairs of the world, I cannot accomplish it. May the master graciously instruct me.' The Venerable said: 'The Way lies in the mind, not in outer matters; the Dharma comes from oneself, not from others. Furthermore, what is cultivated by emperors and kings differs from that of commoners. If a commoner does not subdue himself and practice rigorous restraint, how could he be of use? An emperor or king takes the four seas as his home and the myriad people as his subjects. If he utters a single good word, the gentry and commoners all rejoice; if he disseminates a single good policy, humans and spirits are brought into harmony. If penalties do not cut short lives prematurely, and corvée does not exhaust strength, then wind and rain will arrive in season and the hundred grains will flourish abundantly. By observing the fast in this way, the fast is truly vast; by not killing in this way, the benefit is truly immense. Why must one halt half a day's meal or preserve the life of a single fowl before it is considered broad salvation? One need only bestow diligence and frugality.' The Emperor stroked his table and sighed, saying: 'The worldly are confused by distant principles, while monks remain stuck in close teachings. According to the master's words, one may well discourse on the boundary between Heaven and humans!' From then on, the Emperor revered him as his master, ordered him to reside at Jetavana Monastery, and provided for him most lavishly. Subsequently, he lectured on the Lotus Sūtra and the Daśabhūmika chapter in the monastery. The Emperor led the dukes and ministers daily to gather beneath the seat to listen to the Dharma. The magnificence of the Dharma assembly was unprecedented. (Hongming ji) > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 2.120](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037.2.120) - [Next: 2.122](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037.2.122) - [Up: 2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037.2) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037~en-mt.2.121) — English, machine translation ## Linked texts (1) - [佛祖歷代通載](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2036.8.21) — Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037.2.121](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037.2.121) · Pramāṇa