[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [弘明集](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102) › 9.77 # 弘明集 9.77 弘明集 9.77 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [9.77](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102.9.77) 答曰。浮屠害政桑門蠧俗風驚霧起馳蕩不休。吾哀其弊思拯其溺。夫竭財以赴僧。破產以趨佛。而不恤親戚不憐窮匱者何耶。良由厚我之情深濟物之意淺。是以圭撮涉於貧友。吝情動於顏色。千鍾委於富僧歡懷暢於容髮。豈不以僧有多稌之期。友無遺秉之報。務施不關周急。立德必於在己。惑以茫昧之言。懼以阿鼻之苦。誘以虛誕之詞。欣以兜率之樂。故棄縫掖襲橫衣。廢爼豆列瓶鉢。家家棄其親愛。人人絕其嗣續。至使兵挫於行間。吏空於官府。粟罄於惰游。貨殫於土木。所以姦宄佛勝頌聲尚權。惟此之故也。其流莫已其病無垠。若知陶甄稟於自然。森羅均於獨化。忽焉自有恍爾而無。來也不御。去也不追。乘夫天理各安其性。小人甘其壟畝。君子保其恬素。耕而食。食不可窮也。蠶以衣。衣不可盡也。下有餘以奉其上。上無為以待其下。可以全生可以養親。可以為己可以為人。可以匡國可以霸君用此道也。 > \[Fan Zhen\] replied: Buddhism harms government, and śramaṇas corrupt customs; like rising winds and spreading mists, their agitation never rests. I lament their abuses and wish to rescue those who are drowning. Now, what is the reason that people exhaust their wealth to give to monks and ruin their estates to rush after the Buddha, yet do not care for their relatives or pity the destitute? It truly stems from a deep self-interest and a shallow concern to aid living beings. Thus, when an infinitesimal amount touches an impoverished friend, stinginess appears in one's expression; but when thousands of bushels are cast before wealthy monks, joy and delight spread across one's face and hair. Is this not because monks promise an abundant harvest, while friends offer no return for leftover sheaves? Their pursuit of charity is not about relieving urgency; their establishment of merit must be for themselves. Deluded by murky sayings, they are frightened by the torments of Avīci; enticed by vacuous words, they rejoice in the bliss of Tuṣita. Therefore, they abandon scholar's robes and put on monk's robes; they discard sacrificial vessels and line up bowls and alms-jars. House after house abandons its loved ones; person after person terminates their lineage. This results in armies being depleted in the ranks, administrative offices standing empty of officials, grain being exhausted by idle wanderers, and goods being drained on earth and timber. The reason why treacherous villains are emboldened and praise is given to the powerful is solely due to this! This current does not cease; this disease is boundless. If one understands that fashioning and molding are endowed by nature, and that the myriad things are equally produced by spontaneous transformation—suddenly existing of themselves, indistinctly becoming nothing; not hindered when coming, not pursued when going—then riding upon the Heavenly Principle, each will rest content in its nature: commoners will take pleasure in their fields, and gentlemen will preserve their quiet simplicity. Plowing to eat, the food can never be exhausted; raising silkworms to weave, the clothing can never be used up. Those below have surplus to serve their superiors; those above practice non-action to govern their inferiors. One can preserve life, nourish parents, cultivate oneself, and help others; one can rectify the state and establish a hegemon-monarch through this Dao! > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 9.76](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102.9.76) - [Next: 9.78](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102.9.78) - [Up: 9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102.9) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102~en-mt.9.77) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102.9.77](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102.9.77) · Pramāṇa