弘明集 12.41

12.41

臣等雖誠闇蔽不通遠旨。至於乾乾夙夜思修王度。寧苟執偏管而亂大倫。直以漢魏逮晉不聞異議尊卑憲章無或暫虧也。今沙門之慎戒專專然及為其禮一而已矣。至於守戒之篤者。亡身不吝。何敢以形骸而慢禮敬哉每見燒香呪願。必先國家欲福祐之隆。情無極已奉上崇順。出於自然禮儀之簡。蓋是專一守法。是以先聖御世。因而弗革也。天網恢恢疎而不失。臣等慺慺以為不令致拜於法無虧。因其所利而惠之。使賢愚莫敢不用情。則上有天覆地載之施。下有守一修善之人。謹復陳其愚淺。願蒙省察。謹啟。于時庾氷議寢竟不施敬。

Your subjects, although truly benighted and unable to comprehend the distant intent, yet as far as being diligent day and night to think of cultivating the royal standards, how could we carelessly cling to a partial pipe-view and bring disorder to the great relations? It is simply because from the Han and Wei down to the Jin, we have not heard of dissenting opinions, and the laws governing the honored and the lowly have never suffered the slightest defect. Now the śramaṇas' cautious observance of precepts is single-minded, and their rituals are solely dedicated to that one purpose. As for those who observe the precepts strictly, they do not begrudge even their lives; how could they dare use their corporeal frames to show insolence toward ritual respect? Whenever we see them burning incense and chanting prayers, they invariably put the state first, desiring the flourishing of its blessings, their sentiments boundless, revering the superior and exalting compliance out of nature. The simplicity of their rites and ceremonies is simply due to their single-minded adherence to the Dharma. Therefore, when the former sages governed the world, they followed this and did not change it. The net of heaven is vast, wide-meshed yet letting nothing slip. We subjects sincerely hold that not making them bow brings no defect to the law. If we benefit them in accordance with what is advantageous to them and cause both the worthy and the foolish to dare use their full devotion, then above there will be the bestowal of heaven's canopy and earth's support, and below there will be people who hold fast to unity and cultivate the good. We respectfully state our foolish and shallow views again, hoping to receive Your examination and inspection. Respectfully submitted. At that time, Yu Bing's proposal was shelved, and in the end [śramaṇas] were not made to pay homage.