釋氏稽古略 3.124

3.124

The Emperor Inquires about the Buddha's Kindness. In the second year of Kaiyuan, the Emperor summoned and questioned Dharma Master Shengguang, the Controller of Monks for the Left Street: 'What kindness and virtue does the Buddha have toward sentient beings, that causes people to renounce their ruler, parents, wives, and children to serve him as master? If your explanation has reason, We shall establish it; if your explanation is without reason, We shall eliminate it.' Shengguang said: 'Toward sentient beings, the Buddha's kindness surpasses heaven and earth, his brightness exceeds the sun and moon, his virtue is weightier than that of parents, and his righteousness transcends that of ruler and minister.' The Emperor said: 'Heaven and earth, the sun and moon possess the power of creation and transformation; parents, ruler, and minister possess the virtue of giving birth and nurturing. Why do you say the Buddha surpasses all of these?' Shengguang said: 'Heaven can cover, but it cannot support; earth can support, but it cannot cover. The sun illuminates the day but does not illuminate the night; the moon illuminates the night but does not illuminate the day. A father can only engender, he cannot nurture; a mother can nurture, but she cannot engender. When a ruler possesses the Way, his ministers are loyal; when a ruler lacks the Way, his ministers are sycophantic. Inferring from this, their virtue is not complete. The Buddha's kindness toward sentient beings is not like this. In terms of covering, he universally covers the four modes of birth; in terms of supporting, the six destinies are all sustained by him. In terms of brightness, he shines upon the ten directions; in terms of radiance, he illuminates the three realms of existence. In terms of loving-kindness, he pulls beings out of the sea of suffering; in terms of compassion, he delivers beings from the dark realms. In terms of sagacity, he is the King among all sages; in terms of spiritual power, his six superknowledges are unobstructed. Therefore, both the living and the dead are universally saved; both the noble and the base are all guided. We only hope that Your Majesty will turn your mind to revere him.' The Emperor was delighted and said: 'If the Buddha's kindness is like this, none but you, Master, could expound it. We wish to turn our mind to revere him lifetime after lifetime' (Old Tang History). The twelfth year, a jiazi year [724]. The thirteenth year of Kaiyuan [725].