弘明集 12.98

12.98

Memorial of Minister of the Palace Attendant Sizhi: Regarding the memorial, I have again received the luminous edict. Honoring the utmost of modesty and walking the path of humble brilliance, my humble feelings are deeply anxious and privately uneasy. Although the ways of governance differ, in their ultimate principle they share the same return. Honoring parents and revering kin do not conflict with the teachings of the Dharma. Laozi spoke of the four greats, yet their veneration is one. Though what the śramaṇas ride upon is different, their traces do not transcend the world; how could they not be the same as the people of Heaven? Your Majesty truly desires to propagate it from above; yet the etiquette of low and high is the canon for managing governance. In my humble view, you should deign to comply with the minds of the multitude to serve as an enduring model for the future. We request to proceed as previously memorialized. Respectfully memorialized.