高僧傳 9.22

9.22

Hu once asked Deng: "What is the Buddhadharma?" Deng said: "The Buddhadharma is non-killing." [Hu said:] "I am the lord of all under heaven; without punishment and execution, there is no way to pacify the realm. Having transgressed the precept against taking life, even if I serve the Buddha, how can I attain merit?" Deng said: "An emperor serving the Buddha should do so in his heart, embodying reverence and compliance, elucidating and propagating the Three Jewels, not committing violence and cruelty, and not harming the innocent. As for the vicious, foolish, and depraved who cannot be transformed by moral influence, when they are guilty of crimes, they cannot but be executed; when they commit evil, they cannot but be punished. One should only kill those who should be killed, and punish those who should be punished. If one indulges in violence and cruelty, killing and harming those who are guiltless, then even if one exhausts one's wealth to serve the Dharma, it will not dispel calamities. May Your Majesty lessen your desires and cultivate compassion, extending it widely to all beings; then the Buddhist teachings will forever flourish, and your blessings will be long-lasting." Although Hu could not follow all of it, it brought no small benefit.