續高僧傳 4.7.5

4.7.5

濕火宅之乾焰。 共拔迷塗。 朗愛水之昏波。 同臻彼岸。 是知惡因業墜。 善以緣昇。 昇墜之端惟人所託。 譬夫桂生高嶺雲露方得泫其華。 蓮出淥波飛塵不能污其葉。 非蓮性自潔而桂質本貞。 良由所附者高則微物不能累。 所憑者淨則濁類不能沾。 夫以。 卉木無知。 猶資善而成善。 況乎人倫有識。 不緣慶而求慶。 方冀。 茲經流施。 將日月而無窮。 斯福遐敷。 與乾坤而永大。 百僚稱慶。 奘表謝曰。

Moistening the dry flames of the burning house, together they pull beings out of the path of delusion; illuminating the dark waves of the river of desire, together they reach the other shore. Thus we know that evil falls due to karma, while good ascends by condition; the cause of ascending or falling depends solely on what man relies upon. For instance, when cinnamon grows on a high ridge, only then can the clouds and dew moisten its blossoms; when the lotus emerges from clear waves, flying dust cannot soil its leaves. It is not that the lotus's nature is intrinsically pure and the cinnamon's substance is originally steadfast; it is truly because when that to which one attaches is high, petty things cannot encumber it, and when that upon which one relies is pure, turbid kinds cannot contaminate it. Now, if insensate plants and trees still depend on goodness to achieve goodness, how much more so should conscious human beings not rely on felicitous conditions to seek felicities? We now hope that the dissemination of these scriptures will be endless like the sun and moon, and this blessing broadly extended will be eternally vast alongside Heaven and Earth.' The civil and military officials offered congratulations, and Xuanzang submitted a memorial expressing gratitude, saying: