釋鑑稽古略續集 2.136

2.136

申明佛教榜冊　六月初一日欽奉聖旨。佛教之始。自東漢明帝夜。有金人入夢。是後法自西來。明帝勅臣民願崇敬者許。於是臣民從者眾。所在建立佛剎。當時好事者。在法入之初。有去鬚髮而捨俗出家者。有父母以兒童子出家者。其所修也。本苦空寂寞。去諸相慾。必欲精一己之英靈。當是時佛教大彰。群修者雖不能盡為圓覺。實在修行次第之間。豈有與俗混淆與常人無異者。今天下僧寺。以上古剎列聖相繼而較者。佛之教。本中國之異教也。設使堯舜禹湯之時。遇斯闡演。未審興止何如哉。今佛法自漢入中國。歷曆數者一千三百三十年。非一姓為君而有者也。所以不磨滅者為何。以其務生不殺也。其本面家風端在苦空寂寞。今天下之僧多與俗混淆。尤不如俗者甚多。是等其教而敗其行。理當清其事而成其宗。令一出禪者禪。講者講。瑜伽者瑜伽。各承宗派。集眾為寺。有妻室願還俗者聽。願棄離者聽。僧錄司一如朕命。行下諸山。振揚佛法。以善世仍條于後。

Public Register of Instructions Clarifying Buddhism: On the first day of the sixth month, an imperial edict was respectfully received: 'The beginning of Buddhism dates to the night Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han had a golden man enter his dream. After this, the Dharma came from the West. Emperor Ming decreed that officials and commoners who wished to venerate it were permitted to do so. Thereupon, those among the officials and commoners who followed it were numerous, and Buddhist monasteries were established everywhere. At that time, seekers of the good, when the Dharma first entered, included those who removed beard and hair, renounced the world, and left home, as well as parents who let their young children leave home. What they practiced was originally rooted in suffering, voidness, and solitude, casting off all marks and desires, resolved to refine the spiritual essence of their own self. At that time, Buddhism greatly flourished; although all the practitioners could not all attain complete awakening, they were truly within the stages of cultivation. How could there be any mingling with the vulgar, being no different from ordinary folk? Today, comparing the monasteries throughout the realm with the ancient monasteries and successive holy ones: the teaching of the Buddha was originally a foreign teaching to China. Supposing it had met with proclamation in the times of Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang, it is uncertain how it would have flourished or ceased. Now, since the Buddha-Dharma entered China under the Han, counting the calendar it has been one thousand three hundred and thirty years; it has not been preserved by a single imperial surname alone. Why has it not been extinguished? Because it is devoted to sustaining life and not killing. Its original face and family tradition lie squarely in suffering, voidness, and solitude. Today, many monks of the realm mingle with the vulgar, and those who are even inferior to commoners are very numerous. This equates their teaching with vulgarity and ruins their conduct. In principle, one ought to purify their affairs and accomplish their schools. Once the order is issued: let those who do Chan do Chan; let those who do doctrinal lectures do doctrinal lectures; let those who do Yoga do Yoga; each inheriting their lineage and gathering their assembly as a monastery. Those with wives and children who wish to return to lay life are permitted to do so; those who wish to abandon them are permitted to do so. The Central Buddhist Registry, in total accordance with Our command, shall promulgate this to all the mountains, to invigorate the Buddha-Dharma, and with the Exalter of the World, append the articles below:'