弘明集 10.4

10.4

位現致論要當有體。欲談無佛應設賓主。標其宗旨辯其短長。來就佛理以屈佛理。則有佛之義既躓。神滅之論自行。豈有不求他意。妄作異端。運其隔心鼓其騰口。虛畫瘡疣空致詆呵。篤時之蟲驚疑於往來。滯甃之鼃河漢於遠大。其故何也。淪蒙怠而爭一息。抱孤陋而守井幹。豈知天地之長久溟海之壯闊。孟軻有云。人之所知不如人之所不知。信哉。觀三聖設教。皆云不滅。其文浩博難可具載。止舉二事試以為言。祭義云。惟孝子為能饗親。禮運云。三日齋必見所祭。若謂饗非所饗。見非所見。違經背親言誠可息。神滅之論朕所未詳。

When manifesting a station to set forth a treatise, one must possess substance. If one wishes to discuss the non-existence of the Buddha, one ought to establish a host and guest, delineate their core tenets, and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. Approaching Buddhist principle to refute Buddhist principle, the doctrine of the Buddha's existence would then falter, and the treatise on the extinction of the spirit would prevail on its own. How could one, without seeking the opponent's meaning, recklessly fabricate heterodox theories, exercise an alienated mind, wag a boastful tongue, paint imaginary sores and warts, and hurl vain denunciations? An insect bound to its season is alarmed and skeptical of the cycle of coming and going; a frog stuck in a well is dismissive of what is vast and distant. What is the reason for this? Sunk in benighted laxity, they contend over a single breath; clinging to narrow ignorance, they guard the railing of their well. How could they know the longevity of heaven and earth or the magnificence of the boundless ocean? Meng Ke said: 'What people know is not as great as what they do not know.' How true! Observing the teachings set forth by the three sages, all state that there is no extinction. Their texts are vast and extensive, difficult to cite in full; I shall merely raise two matters to speak of them tentatively. The 'Meaning of Sacrifices' says: 'Only the filial son can feast his parents.' The 'Transport of Rites' says: 'Fasting for three days, one will surely see the one to whom sacrifice is offered.' If one claims that feasting is done to what cannot be feasted, and seeing is of what cannot be seen, this contradicts the classics and turns one's back on one's parents—such talk should truly cease. As for the treatise on the extinction of the spirit, it is something We have not yet comprehended.