弘明集 1.15

1.15

The question was asked: "No blessing exceeds continuing one's lineage; no lack of filial piety surpasses having no descendants. The śramaṇas abandon wives and children, cast away wealth and goods, and some do not marry throughout their lives; how exceedingly they violate the practice of blessings and filial piety! They trouble themselves with no extraordinary result; they exhaust themselves with nothing remarkable." Mouzi said: "He who extends to the left must shorten to the right; he who enlarges what is in front must narrow what is behind. Meng Gongchuo was more than qualified to be an elder of Zhao or Wei, but could not be an officer of Teng or Xue. Wife, children, and material goods are the leftovers of the world; purifying one's person in non-action is the subtlety of the Dao. Laozi said: 'Which is closer to you, your name or your person? Which is worth more, your person or your goods?' He also said: 'Observe the remaining customs of the Three Dynasties; look upon the arts and methods of the Confucians and the Mohists: reciting the Odes and the Documents, cultivating rites and propriety, exalting benevolence and righteousness, and regarding purity—the villagers pass down this trade and their reputation overflows; this is what middling gentlemen put into practice, but the tranquil and indifferent do not care for it.' Therefore, if the pearl of Sui lies ahead and a roaring tiger lurks behind, when someone sees them, he runs and dares not take [the pearl]—why? He puts his life first and his profit second. Xu You nested in a tree; Boyi and Shuqi starved on Mount Shouyang. Shun and Confucius praised their worthiness, saying: 'They sought benevolence and attained benevolence.' One has never heard that they were criticized for having no descendants or no wealth. The śramaṇas cultivate the Dao and virtue to exchange for the pleasures of wandering in the world, and turn away from worldly goodness to turn their backs on the delights of wives and children. If this is not extraordinary, what is extraordinary? If this is not remarkable, what is remarkable?"