釋門自鏡錄 2.91

2.91

卿已出家。永違所生。剃髮毀容。法服加形。辭親之日。上下涕零。割愛崇道。意凌大清。當遵此志經道修明。如何無心故存色聲。悠悠竟日。經業不成。德行日損。穢迹遂盈。師友慚恥。凡俗所輕如是出家徒自辱名。今故誨勵。宜當專精。卿已出家棄俗辭君。應自誨勵。志果青雲。財色不顧。與世不群。金玉不貴。唯道為珍。約己守節。甘苦樂貧。進德自度。又能度人。如何改操趨走風塵。坐不暖席。馳務東西。劇如徭役縣官所牽。經道不通。戒德不全。朋友嗤弄。同學棄捐。如是出家徒喪天年。今故誨勵。宜各自憐。

'You have already renounced household life, perpetually parting from those who gave you birth, shaving your hair, altering your appearance, and putting on the Dharma robes. On the day you took leave of your kin, high and low wept bitterly. Severing affection to venerate the Way, your aspiration soared above the clear sky. You should adhere to this aspiration, cultivating and illuminating the scriptures and the Way. Why then do you lack such an aim and deliberately abide in sights and sounds? Idling through the entire day, your study of the scriptures remains incomplete. Your virtuous conduct diminishes daily, while your foul deeds constantly accumulate. Causing your masters and friends shame and being despised by ordinary worldly people—such a renunciation of household life merely brings disgrace upon one's name. Now I instruct and exhort you: you must be dedicated and refined. You have already renounced household life, abandoning the secular world and taking leave of your sovereign; you should admonish yourself and resolve to reach the blue clouds. Disregard wealth and sex, and do not herd with the world. Value neither gold nor jade, holding only the Way as precious. Restrain yourself and maintain discipline; welcome hardship and delight in poverty. Advance in virtue to liberate yourself, and thereby be able to liberate others. Why change your integrity and scurry amidst the worldly dust, not even warming your seat before rushing off east and west, more frantic than corvée laborers driven by county officials? With the scriptural Way uncomprehended and moral discipline incomplete, your friends mock you and your classmates abandon you. Such a renunciation of household life merely wastes the natural span of years. Now I instruct and exhort you: each of you should have pity on yourselves.'