傳法正宗記 1.12

1.12

杭州靈隱永安蘭若賜紫沙門契嵩狀。今月二十二日。伏蒙。頒賜明教大師號勅牒一道。伏念。契嵩比以本教宗祖不明法道衰微。不自度量。輒著傳法正宗記輔教編等上進。乞賜編入大藏。惟欲扶持其教法。今沐聖朝。特有此旌賜。不唯非其素望。亦乃道德虛薄。實不勝任。不敢當受其黃牒一道。隨狀繳納申聞事。

Petition of Qisong, purple-robed śramaṇa of Yong'an Hermitage at Lingyin in Hangzhou: On the twenty-second day of the present month, I have humbly received an imperial patent conferring the title of Master Mingjiao. Humbly reflecting that previously, because the patriarchs of the lineage of my teaching were not clear and the way of the Dharma was in decline, Qisong, without considering his own limitations, rashly composed the Chuanfa zhengzong ji, Fujiao bian, and other works to submit to the throne, begging that they be included in the Tripiṭaka solely to support and uphold this teaching. Now, bathed in the extraordinary honor and bestowal from the Sagely Court, not only was it contrary to my original wish, but my virtue and Dao are also shallow and thin, truly rendering me incapable of bearing the responsibility. I dare not accept this one yellow patent, and hereby surrender and submit it along with this petition, reporting on this matter.