弘明集 10.134

10.134

Your disciple Shen Hong bows his head in obeisance. Condescending to be informed, I reverently read the imperial edict replying to the ministers examining the treatise on the extinction of the spirit. Now, the subtle stirrings of things are hard to fathom, and in darkness one is easily obscured. Were it not for concentrating the spirit into this mirror and plumbing the abstruse into this radiance, how could one rescue from thick mists those who have delusions, or employ solitary insight amid ignorance? I humbly reflect that the Great Sage governs the realm and his supreme virtue sets an example for all beings; he raises the Dharma cloud to spread moistening grace and opens the wisdom sun to increase brilliance. In distance it may be compared to the vast ocean, and in proximity likened to a well-sweep; in the present or in remote antiquity, who could know this? As for the scriptural metaphors of the bird flying away while the jar remains, or the fire extinguishing while the character survives; or the Book of Rites stating: 'Spirits do not accept the sacrifices of those not of their kind, yet sacrifices bring down blessings'; and moreover the dream of the orchid conferring Prince Mu of Zheng, or the tying of grass to resist Du Hui—all such diverse instances cannot be fully recorded. Furthermore, the reciprocal transmigrations through the five paths and the common convergence in the six perfections are all manifest proofs of the spirit and the profound purport of its non-extinction. Yet can the limping Que Ke walk stride for stride with someone from Handan? Can Lu Ao's swift arrival match pace with Ruoshi? Now, looking up, it reaches down to the heaven's gems, and looking down, it extends to the icchantikas. It is what is called parting thick mists to reach the joined jades, or emerging from dark night to behold the Torch Dragon; drawing water from a deep abyss with a short rope, or gazing at the billows to survey the sea. I am truly joyful and receive it upon my head, like an invaluable precious pearl. Shen Hong bows his head in obeisance.