弘明集 10.95

10.95

辱告。伏見勅旨答臣下審神滅論。夫形分涉麁。或微隱難悟。況識理精密。豈迷見能曉所以。斷常交騖一異競奔。若中道居懷則欲流可反。二邊滯意彼岸長乖。神滅之論斯彰實重。仰賴聖主棟梁至教。明詔爰發朗若披雲。非直冥符訓典俯弘孝義。蓋妙達生源幽窮行本。使執禮之性踐霜露而彌篤。研神之識仰禪悅而增心。皆當習忍慧途翻流惑海。弟子早標素心未知津濟。伏讀歡欣充遍身識。猥惠存勗荷眷唯深。嚴植之呈。

I am honoured by your letter and have respectfully seen the imperial decree answering the ministers to clarify the treatise on the extinction of the spirit. The division of corporeal form pertains to the coarse, yet even this can be subtle, hidden, and hard to comprehend; how much more so with the precise and refined principle of consciousness—how could confused views understand it? Thus eternalism and annihilationism race against each other, and oneness and difference contend to surge forward. If the Middle Way resides in one's bosom, the torrent of desire can be reversed; if one's intent lingers on the two extremes, the other shore will long be parted from. When this treatise on the extinction of the spirit was set forth, it was indeed grave. Relying on the sacred sovereign to pillar the supreme teaching, an enlightened edict was issued, as bright as clouds parting. It does not merely secretly tally with the canonical scriptures and broadly promote filial piety; it also wondrously reaches the source of birth and deeply plumbs the root of action. It makes the nature that adheres to ritual increasingly earnest when treading on frost and dew, and the consciousness that investigates the spirit heighten its mind in revering the joy of dhyāna. All will cultivate patience along the path of wisdom and reverse the ocean of delusion. I, your disciple, early set my plain heart, yet knew not the crossing. Respectfully reading this, joy filled my body and consciousness. Bestowing your favor and encouragement, your gracious regard is deeply appreciated. Presented by Yan Zhizhi.