宋高僧傳 19.52

19.52

The appraisal states: Is the rising and falling of the doctrinal teaching not a matter of destiny? When the tally of destiny is fixed, it does not shift by an instant. Just as before the Huichang era, the śarīra flew away in advance and the date tree withered beforehand, we know that when the destiny of decline is strong, the destiny of prosperity must be weak, and prosperity cannot overcome decline. With the resurgence of the Dazhong era, decline could not overcome prosperity. If it were not for the shifting of the four characteristics, it would not be tied to the numbers of rising and falling. The doctrinal teaching is a conditioned phenomenon; how could it avoid the flowing stream of change? Alas!