弘明集 1.42

1.42

問曰。王喬赤松八仙之籙神書百七十卷。長生之事與佛經豈同乎。牟子曰。比其類猶五霸之與五帝。陽貨之與仲尼。比其形猶丘垤之與華恒。涓瀆之與江海。比其文猶虎鞹之與羊皮。斑紵之與錦繡也。道有九十六種。至於尊大。莫尚佛道也。神仙之書。聽之則洋洋盈耳。求其效猶握風而捕影。是以大道之所不取。無為之所不貴。焉得同哉。

The questioner asked: In the registers of the Eight Immortals including Wang Qiao and Chisongzi, there are one hundred and seventy fascicles of divine writings; are their matters of longevity at all the same as the Buddhist scriptures? Mouzi said: Comparing their category is like comparing the Five Hegemons with the Five Emperors, or Yang Huo with Zhongni. Comparing their form is like comparing an ant-hill with Mounts Hua and Heng, or a trickling ditch with rivers and oceans. Comparing their text is like comparing untanned tiger hide with sheepskin, or patterned ramie with embroidered brocade. There are ninety-six kinds of paths; when it comes to supreme greatness, none surpasses the Buddha's Dao. When one hears the books of divine immortals, they sound grand and fill the ear; but if one seeks their verification, it is like grasping the wind or catching a shadow. Therefore, they are not adopted by the Great Dao, nor valued by non-action. How could they be the same?