弘明集 1.23

1.23

牟子曰。工輸能與人斧斤繩墨。而不能使人功。聖人能授人道。不能使人履而行之也。臯陶能罪盜人。不能使貪夫為夷齊。五刑能誅無狀。不能使惡子為曾閔。堯不能化丹朱。周公不能訓管蔡。豈唐教之不著。周道之不備哉。然無如惡人何也。譬之世人學通七經。而迷於財色。可謂六藝之邪淫乎。河伯雖神。不溺陸地人。飄風雖疾。不能使湛水揚塵。當患人不能行。豈可謂佛道有惡乎。

Mouzi said: "Gongshu could provide men with axes and marking cords, but could not make them skillful. The Sages could confer the Dao upon men, but could not make them step forward and practice it. Gaoyao could penalize thieves, but could not make covetous men into Boyi and Shuqi. The five punishments could execute the villainous, but could not make evil sons into Zeng Shen and Min Ziqian. Yao could not transform Danzhu; the Duke of Zhou could not instruct Guan and Cai. Was it that the Tang's teachings were not illustrious, or that the Zhou's Dao was not complete? Yet there was nothing to be done about wicked men. By analogy, when a person of the world is versed in the seven classics yet bewildered by wealth and sex, can one call the Six Arts depraved? Although the River God is divine, he does not drown people on dry land; although the whirlwind is swift, it cannot stir dust from still waters. One should only worry that men cannot practice it; how could one say that the Buddhist Dao has wickedness?"