高僧傳 7.16

7.16

羊玄保進曰：「此談蓋天人之際，豈臣所宜預。竊恐秦，楚論強兵之術，孫吳盡吞併之計，將無取於此耶？」帝曰：「此非戰國之具，良如卿言。」尚之曰：「夫禮隱逸則戰士怠，貴仁德則兵氣衰。若以孫吳為志，苟在吞噬，亦無取堯舜之道，豈唯釋教而已耶？」帝悅曰：「釋門有卿，亦猶孔氏之有季路，所謂惡言不入於耳。」帝自是信心迺立，始致意佛經。及見嚴、觀諸僧，輒論道義理。

Yang Xuanbao came forward and said: "This discussion pertains to the realm of heaven and humanity; how could it be something I should take part in? Yet I humbly fear that if Qin and Chu were discussing the art of strengthening their armies, or Sun [Wu] and Wu [Qi] were pursuing plans of total annexation, they would find nothing to adopt here, would they not?" The Emperor said: "These are not instruments for the Warring States period, truly as you have said." Shangzhi said: "Revering recluses causes warriors to grow lax; prizing benevolence and virtue causes military morale to wane. If one sets one's aspiration on Sun [Wu] and Wu [Qi] and is solely bent on swallowing [rivals], one would also find nothing to adopt in the Way of Yao and Shun—how could it be only the Buddhist teaching?" The Emperor said with pleasure: "That the Buddhist community has you is just as the Confucian school had Jilu; as the saying goes, 'Evil words did not enter his ears.'" From then on, the Emperor's faith was firmly established, and he began to turn his attention to the Buddhist scriptures. Whenever he met monks such as Yan and Guan, he would discuss the principles of the Way with them.