釋氏稽古略 1.5

1.5

I have occasionally dipped into the books of the three teachings. Though their paths differ, their principle is one. The venerable Baozhou [Jue]'an of the Southern Chan [Monastery] in Songjiang, broadly versed in past and present, examined biographies and collected the historical traces and lives of the Śākya lineage, compiling them into a book of four fascicles entitled the Brief Historical Survey of Examining Antiquity (Jigu lüe). Now, the two words 'examining antiquity' (jigu) originated in the times of Tang and Yu; its provenance is ancient indeed. While respectfully serving in this prefecture, I was able to observe how Baozhou named his book based on ancient historical discourse, fully narrating the intention of the Buddhas and Patriarchs coming from the West. Vast and boundless, it clearly has its origins and developments. Alas! Were it not for one whose wise nature is thoroughly penetrating and who has deeply harboured the profound mysteries of the Buddha, who could achieve such a work? If later scholars can take Baozhou's mind as their own mind, what worry is there that they will not reach the realm of seeing one's nature and attaining Buddhahood? Ah!