弘明集 12.41

12.41

Your subjects, although truly benighted and unable to comprehend the distant intent, yet as far as being diligent day and night to think of cultivating the royal standards, how could we carelessly cling to a partial pipe-view and bring disorder to the great relations? It is simply because from the Han and Wei down to the Jin, we have not heard of dissenting opinions, and the laws governing the honored and the lowly have never suffered the slightest defect. Now the śramaṇas' cautious observance of precepts is single-minded, and their rituals are solely dedicated to that one purpose. As for those who observe the precepts strictly, they do not begrudge even their lives; how could they dare use their corporeal frames to show insolence toward ritual respect? Whenever we see them burning incense and chanting prayers, they invariably put the state first, desiring the flourishing of its blessings, their sentiments boundless, revering the superior and exalting compliance out of nature. The simplicity of their rites and ceremonies is simply due to their single-minded adherence to the Dharma. Therefore, when the former sages governed the world, they followed this and did not change it. The net of heaven is vast, wide-meshed yet letting nothing slip. We subjects sincerely hold that not making them bow brings no defect to the law. If we benefit them in accordance with what is advantageous to them and cause both the worthy and the foolish to dare use their full devotion, then above there will be the bestowal of heaven's canopy and earth's support, and below there will be people who hold fast to unity and cultivate the good. We respectfully state our foolish and shallow views again, hoping to receive Your examination and inspection. Respectfully submitted. At that time, Yu Bing's proposal was shelved, and in the end [śramaṇas] were not made to pay homage.