弘明集 1.41

1.41

問曰。子以經傳之辭華麗之說。褒讚佛行稱譽其德。高者凌清雲。廣者踰地圻。得無踰其本過其實乎。而僕譏刺頗得疹中而其病也。牟子曰。吁吾之所褒。猶以塵埃附嵩泰。收朝露投江海。子之所謗。猶握瓢觚欲減江海。躡耕耒欲損崑崙。側一掌以翳日光。舉土塊以塞河衝。吾所褒不能使佛高。子之毀不能令其下也。

The questioner asked: You use the words of the classics and commentaries, together with flowery discourses, to extol the Buddha's practices and praise his virtue—their height surpasses the clear clouds, their breadth exceeds the boundaries of the earth. Might this not exceed their basis and surpass their reality? Whereas my criticisms have rather hit the mark and pinpointed their defect. Mouzi said: Ah! My praise is like adding dust to Mounts Song and Tai, or collecting the morning dew to cast into rivers and oceans. Your slander is like holding a gourd ladle wanting to diminish rivers and oceans, or treading a plow-share wanting to damage the Kunlun mountains; it is like holding up a single hand to shield the sunlight, or raising a clod of earth to dam the surge of the Yellow River. My praise cannot make the Buddha higher, nor can your slander make him lower.