宋高僧傳 25.59

25.59

通曰：「此滅法無知之徒言耳。上根感戒，果證相隨，何以經紙數考試耶？脫捨下根之誦持，入法止闒茸、白丁矣！南山大師云：『纔登解髮，便須通覽。』又『後周初，多度僧尼，勅靈藏銓品行業，若講若誦，卷部眾多，隨有文義，莫不周鑑，時共測量，通經了意，最為第一。』此乃精選誦經、通義，為入道之階漸也。不見此文，深為痛惜。

Master Tong said: "These are merely the words of ignorant people who destroy the Dharma. When superior roots receive the precepts, the fruits and realizations follow along; why would one test them by the number of sheets of scripture? If one discards the recitation of those of inferior capacity, those entering the Dharma will merely be degenerate mediocrities and common uneducated folk! Master Nanshan said: 'As soon as one unties the hair [for ordination], one must thoroughly peruse them.' Furthermore: 'At the beginning of the Later Zhou, many monks and nuns were ordained; Lingzang was imperially ordered to assess their conduct and practice. Whether lecturing or reciting, across numerous fascicles and sections, according to the text and meaning there was none he did not fully inspect; at that time all judged together that penetrating scriptures and understanding their meaning was foremost.' This was the careful selection of reciting scriptures and mastering meaning as the gradual steps for entering the Way. Not seeing this text is deeply to be lamented.