弘明集 1.42

1.42

The questioner asked: In the registers of the Eight Immortals including Wang Qiao and Chisongzi, there are one hundred and seventy fascicles of divine writings; are their matters of longevity at all the same as the Buddhist scriptures? Mouzi said: Comparing their category is like comparing the Five Hegemons with the Five Emperors, or Yang Huo with Zhongni. Comparing their form is like comparing an ant-hill with Mounts Hua and Heng, or a trickling ditch with rivers and oceans. Comparing their text is like comparing untanned tiger hide with sheepskin, or patterned ramie with embroidered brocade. There are ninety-six kinds of paths; when it comes to supreme greatness, none surpasses the Buddha's Dao. When one hears the books of divine immortals, they sound grand and fill the ear; but if one seeks their verification, it is like grasping the wind or catching a shadow. Therefore, they are not adopted by the Great Dao, nor valued by non-action. How could they be the same?