弘明集 3.26

3.26

佛經說。釋迦文昔為小乘比丘而毀大乘。猶為此備苦地獄經歷劫數。況都不信者耶。復何以斷此經必虛乎。足下所詰前書中語。為因琳道人章句耳。其意既已粗達。不能復一二辯答。所制明佛論已。事事有通今付往。足下力為善尋。具告中否。老將死以此續其盡耳。此書至便倚索答。殊不容悉。宗炳白。

The Buddhist scriptures say that when Śākyamuni was formerly a Hīnayāna monk, he disparaged the Mahāyāna, and even for this he underwent the full suffering of hell for kalpas; how much more so for those who do not believe at all? How, then, can you decide that this scripture must be false? The words in my previous letter that you questioned merely drew upon the monk Lin's phrases; since their gist has already been roughly conveyed, I cannot reply and debate them one by one again. In my 'Treatise on Clarifying Buddhism' that I composed, every matter has been resolved; I am sending it to you now. Please examine it carefully and inform me fully whether it hits the mark or not. In old age and nearing death, I merely use this to prolong what is coming to an end. As soon as your letter arrived, I leaned [against the desk] to draft this reply, so it cannot be exhaustive. Zong Bing respectfully states.