弘明集 12.62

12.62

答曰。夫君道通生則理同造化。夫陶鑄敷氣。功則弘矣。而未有謝惠於所稟厝感於理本者何。良以冥本幽絕。非物象之所舉。運通理妙。豈麁迹之能酬。是以夫子云。可使由之。不可使知之。此之謂也。

I reply: The ruler's Dao fosters all life, so its principle is identical to Creation. Moulding and spreading the pneuma, its merit is vast indeed! Yet why has no one ever thanked the benevolence of what they received, or lodged gratitude in the root of principle? It is truly because the dark root is obscure and transcendent, not something that material forms can lift; its pervasive operation and principle are subtle—how could coarse traces repay it? Thus the Master said: 'They may be made to follow it, but cannot be made to understand it.' This is what it means.