弘明集 11.46

11.46

莊篇有弱喪之謬。釋典有窮子之迷。每讀其書為之長慨。敬慎髮膚揚名後史。仰顯既重俯弘為大。遠尋聖言斯教為最。近取諸身實迷情理。瞿曇見此亦當莫逆於心。況君辯破秋毫識洞今古。裂冠不疑拔本不悞。幽冥相駭遐邇致驚。昔呂尚抱竿於八十之年志釣由時未遇君沈淪未及冀能有美若人耳如其不爾。豈不悲哉。僕忝莅梓蕃庶在明仄觀貢帝庭必盡才懿。故欲通所未通屈所未屈。如來告紛紜。有乖真唱。苟為誕說豈所期耶。昔王祥藮採沂側。耳順始應州命。公孫弘牧豕海上。白首方充鄉舉。終能致位元台。朝天變地。道暢當年聲流萬載。君意何如。敬布腹心。想更圖之。劉君白答。

The writings of Zhuangzi contain the error of 'losing oneself in youth'; the Buddhist scriptures have the delusion of the 'prodigal son'. Whenever I read these books, I heave a long sigh for them. Respecting and taking caution over hair and skin, and spreading one's fame in later annals: displaying them above is weighty, and magnifying them below is grand. Looking far into the sacred words, this teaching is supreme; taking it near from one's own person, one is truly confused by feelings and reason. Had Gautama seen this, he too would have agreed wholeheartedly. How much more so when your debate splits an autumn hair and your understanding penetrates past and present: you tore your cap without hesitation and uprooted your foundation without error, so that the unseen realms are startled and near and far are shocked. Anciently, Lü Shang held his fishing rod at the age of eighty, his aim in fishing depending on the times; before he met [King Wen], you had not sunk so low. I hoped you could possess the beauty of such a man; if it be otherwise, how lamentable! Having the honour to oversee this frontier realm, I seek out those in obscurity; when observing those to be presented to the imperial court, they must exhaust what is talented and fine. Therefore I wished to open what was unopened and draw forth what was bent. When the Tathāgata's pronouncements are discordant, they run counter to the true proclamation; if they be extravagant talk, how could they be what we anticipate? Formerly Wang Xiang gathered firewood along the Yi River, only responding to the command of the province at the age of sixty; Gongsun Hong herded swine by the sea, only fulfilling the village recommendation with gray hair. Ultimately they were able to reach the rank of the Prime Ministry, facing heaven and transforming the earth, their way flowing through their contemporary age and their fame streaming down for ten thousand generations. What is your mind? I respectfully bare my true feelings, hoping you will reconsider. Reply by Liu Junbai.