釋鑑稽古略續集 2.139

2.139

一顯密之教軌範科儀。務遵洪武十六年頒降格式內。其所演唱者。除內外部真言。難以字譯。仍依西域之語。其中最密者。惟是所以曰密。其餘番譯經及道場內。接續詞情懇切交章。天人鬼神咸可聞知者。此其所以曰顯。於茲科儀之禮。明則可以達人。幽則可以達鬼。不比未編之先。俗僧愚士。妄為百端訛舛規矩。貽笑智人。鬼神不達。此令一出。務謹遵毋增減。為詞訛舛紊亂。敢有違者。罪及首僧及習者。

Regarding the liturgical standards and ritual protocols of the exoteric and esoteric teachings: They must strictly comply with the format promulgated in the sixteenth year of Hongwu. In what is chanted and performed, apart from the internal and external mantras which are difficult to translate character by character and thus still follow the languages of the Western Regions—wherein the most esoteric are designated esoteric for this reason alone—the remaining translated scriptures, as well as the continuous verses of sincere sentiment exchanged in ritual arenas that are fully audible to devas, humans, ghosts, and spirits, are designated exoteric for this reason. Through these ritual protocols, the manifest can reach humans, and the unseen can reach spirits. This is not like before the compilation, when common monks and foolish men recklessly devised hundreds of erroneous rules, making themselves laughingstocks to the wise while failing to reach ghosts and spirits. Once this order is issued, it must be cautiously obeyed without additions or deletions, which would make the verses erroneous and chaotic. Dare anyone violate it, the crime shall fall upon both the head monk and the practitioners.