宋高僧傳 28.38

28.38

「今則不勤課勵，靡事增修，因搜頴脫之數員，貴顯盂安之三寶，就今有作，何代無人？或京兆開乎『海池』，或終南建乎蘭若，鑄大悲之銅像，造相國之伽藍。或代病利人，或護生掘土，鑄鐘感瑞，立剎參雲，刻像繁多，修臺浩博，披榛平田之梵宇，脫樣阿育之浮圖，刊石為經，鳩財立藏。或治病於井絡，或化人於鄜畤。如斯人也，入殊邦之鄉導，合二姓之良媒。日月伏根，照洞庭之幽暗；乾坤玄鑿，開混沌之竅端。所行博哉，續運長矣！公羊子有之曰：『是上之行乎下也。』《詩》云：『爾之教矣，民胥效矣。』願吾徒望上而學之。令仁祠聖像無墜于地者也。」

"Now people do not diligently apply themselves to their tasks nor engage in ever greater cultivation. Therefore, I have sought out several eminent figures who stood out, to make prominent the Three Treasures that rest in peace like a bowl. As for deeds in modern times, what age has ever lacked such people? Some in the capital dug the 'Ocean Pond'; others in Zhongnan founded an ārāma; some cast bronze statues of the Great Compassionate One; others built the Xiangguo monastery. Some took upon themselves illness to benefit others; some protected living beings when digging the earth; some cast bells that moved auspicious omens; some erected stūpas piercing the clouds; carvings of statues were numerous, and the construction of terraces vast; some cleared brambles and leveled fields for Sanskrit sanctuaries; some modeled stūpas after King Aśoka's designs; some carved stones into scriptures; some gathered funds to establish libraries of the Canon. Some cured sickness among the Jingluo stars; some transformed people at the Fuzhi altar. People like these are guides leading the way into foreign lands, or excellent matchmakers uniting two families. Like the sun and moon sinking their roots to illuminate the deep gloom of Dongting, or Heaven and Earth mysteriously chiseling to open the apertures of Chaos—how broad was what they practiced, how long their legacy continues! Gongyangzi said of this: 'This is the practice of superiors influencing inferiors.' The Book of Odes says: 'When you instruct them, the people will follow your example.' May my fellow disciples look up to superiors and emulate them, so that benevolent shrines and sacred images never fall to ruin."