釋鑑稽古略續集 3.17

3.17

Daoyu lu (Record of the Remainder of the Way): The Junior Preceptor also took the style Taoxuzi (The Master Who Flees Emptiness) and authored the Daoyu lu. His preface states: "In former days when I was a monk, encountering the turmoil of the late Yuan wars, nearing the age of thirty I followed Venerable Master Yu'an at Mount Jing to study Chan. In leisure, I perused internal and external scriptures to enrich my talent and knowledge. I then examined the surviving writings of the two Masters Cheng of Henan and the recorded sayings of Master Zhu Huian of Xin'an. These three masters were all born during the Zhao-Song dynasty and transmitted the learning of the sages that had not been transmitted for a thousand years; they may be called outstanding heroes between the ages and true Confucians of the world. However, in assisting the moral teachings, these three masters made their sole aim the rejection and denunciation of Buddhism and Daoism. The Grand Astrologer said: 'In this world, those who study Laozi belittle Confucian learning, and Confucian learning likewise belittles Laozi. Those whose ways are different do not plot together.' This has always been so from ancient times to the present—how could it be strange? Yet, since these three masters became the guiding lights of this culture and models for later scholars, even if they rejected Buddhism and Daoism, they should have relied on reason; if supremely fair and selfless, people's minds would be convinced. Because these three masters did not delve deeply into Buddhist texts and did not understand the depths of Buddhism, they issued perverse and biased statements entirely out of personal prejudice, excessively suppressing and wronging it, so that people in the world were mostly unsettled by it—how much more so those who take it as their lineage! In the surviving writings of the two Masters Cheng there are twenty-eight entries, and in the recorded sayings of Master Zhu Huian there are twenty-one entries, that are exceedingly absurd and unfounded. Without taking measure of my own abilities, I have analyzed them one by one according to reason. How could I dare claim to debate with the three masters? It is only that I could not bear it, nor is it out of flattery toward Buddhism. Once drafted, it was stored in my trunk for years. Now, having retired from public duties, I came across these drafts while looking through old papers. I immediately made a clean copy into fascicles, titled it Daoyu lu, and placed it upon my desk. If any scholar-gentlemen visiting me should read this record, whether they understand me or condemn me—will it not be on account of this? Written by Taoxuzi."