高僧傳 7.16

7.16

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.