弘明集 14.10

14.10

Now, when times are blocked there comes passage; when obstruction reaches its end, peace follows. Thousands of sages have succeeded one another, and hosts of masters have inherited the lineage in turn. In the past, our imperial ancestor, the primal heavenly king, embodied transformation in response to cosmic tallies and arose like a dragon in the primordial domain. Relying on provisional forms to embrace the myriad states, brandishing the axe of wisdom to cover the universe, his awe-inspiring power swept away the four evils, clearing the three realms of existence. Just as he was about to raise the grand netting throughout the eight quarters and stretch the divine net across the universe, pacifying the seven wastes and unifying the nine lands, the profound ancestor did not extend pity: his true countenance became frozen in stillness, the double radiance hid its light, and the empty boat capsized in the waves. Consequently, ant-like evils sprang up in succession, and owl-like views violently arose, clouding and defiling the true path, disturbing and perplexing the pure multitude. Cruelty fell upon the common people, and poison flowed through myriad kalpas. All sentient beings cherishing the Dao, though differing in thought, shared the same indignation. Our King of the Dharma, succeeding to the cycle and responding to the time, governed disorder. Above, he inherited the lofty lineage; below, he received the entrustment of the multitudes' hearts. Holding high the celestial banner to enfold the three thousand [worlds], clasping the sacred blueprint to make grand the great undertaking, clouds rose above the four palaces and the luan bird soared over Tianzhu. He descended his spirit at Kapilavastu, serving as a rampart for the age. Comforting and nurturing the common folk, bringing peace and security to the ministers, encouraging and guiding the feelings of the masses, he consoled the sick. He honed the axe of wisdom in his breast and donned the armor of the spirit upon his body. Pitying the innocence of the eighteen [elements] and mourning that the path of the three vacuities was cut off, he resolved to rectify the great wilderness and inevitably level many hardships. A hundred domains and a thousand states bowed low in submission to his transformative influence. Yet we learn that you, unawed, are doubly deluded and self-concealing. Deeply clasping your foolish mind, you stubbornly cling to counterfeit views, perching like a wolf upon the heavens of desire and screeching like an owl at the divine palace. Rebellious along the borderlands, you resist the sacred commands, claiming that the great throne can be ascended and that the grand design can be altered. Looking upon this twofold and threefold folly, we can only sigh! In the past, when Mahābhijñājñānābhibhū governed the world, the myriad regions followed him like shadows. There was a false and foolish celestial Māra who did not comply with the correct commands, disturbing the sacred ears and troubling the divine thoughts. Leading troops to block the void and manifesting provisional forms in myriad changes, his refined armor reflected the sun, and his frosted halberds swept the realm. Divine drums vied in sounding, their noise striking beyond the bounds. Stalking about with overweening steps, he considered himself mighty and strong. But once the royal host made a single thrust, all the hosts of evil were wiped out and perished; the deluded multitudes reformed their hearts, bending in submission like shadows before the wind. How much less can you, a single general, with merely a few valiant foot-soldiers and an undisciplined crowd that does not even form an army, hope to rebel, oppress the splendid cities, usurp divine authority, and vault past the Supreme One! To consider yourself equal to the True One—is that not an utter delusion? Now Śākyamuni governs the world; his Dao surpasses previous kalpas. His wonderful transformation is vast and boundless, and his divine net is extended far and wide. Men of wisdom are harmonious and numerous, their cloud-like stratagems overshadowing the age; martial warriors leap like dragons, drawing bows in myriad companies. Coordinating their plans to correspond to reality, their marvelous strategies are transcendent. Therefore, an order has been issued to Commissioner Bearing the Tally, Vanguard Generalissimo, Commander-in-Chief of Jambudvīpa, and Marquis Who Returns to Righteousness, Sadā[prarudita], uniquely endowed with celestial wonders, whose profound mirror is veiled in dust, whose spirit towers over Sumeru, whose fierce vigor blankets the world, who excels in martial arts and is versed in culture, whose loyalty is manifest to the imperial palace: he leads a host of four hundred billion to spur their mounts and take the lead on the road. Commissioner Bearing the Tally, Far-Reaching Awe Generalissimo, Commander-in-Chief of the Four Heavens, and Duke of Trāyastriṃśa, the guide of martial excellence, supreme among the multitude, superior in culture, with boundless plans and wondrous thoughts, detached from dust, his mind roosting beyond dreams, forgetting his own body out of sorrow for the times, resolved to rectify the world: he leads a host of one trillion to soar like luan birds along the celestial thoroughfare. Commissioner Bearing the Tally, Subduing Māra Generalissimo, Commander-in-Chief of the Six Heavens, King of Tuṣita, and Vimukticandra, whose wondrous thought reaches into the vacuous and profound, stepping high beyond worldly dust, his strategies rivaling the Kumārabhūta, his merits equal to the nine grounds, mourning the three paths of suffering, indignant as if evil were given free rein, drawing his sword in passionate resolve, wheeling like a dragon eager to exert himself: he leads a host of four trillion to swirl like clouds through the heavenly gate. Commissioner Bearing the Tally, Penetrating the Subtle Generalissimo, Commander-in-Chief of the Seven Heavens, King of the Four Dhyānas, and Vajragarbha, whose bright essence reflects the sunlight, whose golden countenance shines afar, whose favor surpasses the nine bestowals, whose power overturns mountains and seas—glancing to the right, Mengfan surges in waves; looking to the left, Fusang casts down its glow—whose virtue leaves nothing unilluminated, whose awe leaves none unsubmitted: he leads a host of seven trillion to gaze like a tiger upon Sumeru. Commissioner Bearing the Tally, Pacifying the Realm Generalissimo, Commander-in-Chief of the Nine Heavens, King of the Eighth Stage, the Great Vimalakīrti, whose extraordinary calculations are inconceivable, whose axe of the Dharma vibrates afar, his essence harboring divine grace, his expedient means surpassing myriad transformations—breathing in, the nine provinces follow like clouds; roaring out, the ten directions bend like grass before the wind—pitying the common people below in their innocent bitterness: he leads a host of nine trillion to water their horses at the ford of vacuity. Commissioner Bearing the Tally, Surveying the Rear Generalissimo, Commander-in-Chief of the Thirteen Heavens and of All Military Affairs of the Minor Chiliocosm, King of the Ninth Stage, the Great Mañjuśrī, inheriting his lineage from the distant origin, his bodily radiance illuminating the three realms, descending from the Purple Palace, lofty in spirit and great in form, adapting to a thousand ways with tens of thousands of profound calculations—all moving beings are felt within his single person, all thoughts are stilled within a single instant of thought—deeply embracing loving-kindness and compassion, his feelings encompassing the four means of embracing: he leads a host like dust to soar over this land. Commissioner Bearing the Tally, Rectifying the Teaching Generalissimo, Controller of All Military Affairs Concerning Māra, Colonel of the Host of Evils, King of the Medium Chiliocosm, Avalokiteśvara, whose wisdom and strategy are profound and deep, whose axe of wisdom vibrates afar, clearly penetrating the four ways, brightly inspecting the three stabilities, sometimes leaving his traces among the host of evils, flashing brilliant blades that rise up, sometimes manifesting provisional forms in the eighteen realms to relieve their miseries—waving his hand, the Iron Encircling Mountains crumble into cliffs; exhaling a breath, the floating clouds collapse over precipices—able to serve as an unasked friend to the myriad regions: he leads an inconceivable host, brandishing halberds and roaring like tigers. Commissioner Bearing the Tally, Spreading Transformation Generalissimo, Commander-in-Chief of the Three Realms, King of the Succession, the Great Maitreya, whose marvelous substance traverses the net [of phenomena], whose celestial bearing is preeminent, whose body surpasses adamantine diamond, whose mind encompasses what lies beyond the dust, whose fierce vigor surges into the clouds, whose axe of wisdom is brandished afar—non-arising revolves within his chest, expedient wisdom responds outside worldly affairs—whatever his will aims at, nothing fails to be accomplished, awe and kindness exercised together, the ultimate and the conventional established in tandem: he leads a host of eighty-four thousand, strictly alert and awaiting commands. The ranks of those who courageously advance overflow the great chiliocosm; the warriors of adamantine resolve fill the eight extremities. All yearn to assist in the expedition to sweep across the universe. Riding in the jeweled chariots of the perfections, keeping to the cultivated road of the eightfold path, striding atop the divine steeds of the six spiritual penetrations, grasping the sacred reins of the vacuous lineage, drawing the stiff bows of the four dhyānas, releasing the sharp arrows of expedient views, their neighing steeds are majestic, their swift strides spirited. Receiving the commands of the sacred court, they have never had any deficiency. Your noble sons, the excellent sons among guides, numbering five hundred, profoundly discerned the celestial decree and came to take refuge in the royal transformation. The sacred ruler opened his heart and, moved by their submission, granted them titles, nobility, rewards, and fiefdoms; their merit equals that of veteran ministers, their renown covering the myriad regions. What mind possess you, then, to harbor deviant plans out of turn, lounging proudly on the desolate frontier, intending to secure your permanent position, causing venom and harm to erupt among the common people, and calamity to flow for eternal kalpas? Is this not lamentable? Is this not a delusion? Formerly, owing to the times, you were misled by external things; mad and confused in mind, you plunged into peril and fled abroad. Though one fault in a hundred deeds is often committed by the wise and virtuous, it has long been thought that you would become aware, turn from your folly, present your guilt before the palace gates, bind your body, cast off your hairpin, and mingle with the crowd of worthies, rejoicing in the Dao and preserving an honorable name from beginning to end. Why do you hold onto foolishness, cling to error, and steal ease in a deviant position, relying on the mountain of ignorance to exalt yourself, depending on the grove of views to disport yourself, indulging in the foul dust of the six desires, toying with deviant delusions to gratify your nature, erecting the high banner of arrogance, and leading the sinister battle arrays of fundamental ignorance, boldly striding on the wild paths and lightly trifling with the sacred vessels, usurping the celestial palace and rivaling the sun and moon? We fear this cannot be accomplished! Raising a hand to block out the three luminaries, or clutching earth to fill the vast sea—though envisioned in mind as an empty aim, the task is difficult to fulfill. General, you have cultivated blessings in the profound ford, and your origins trace far back; your splendid countenance is dazzling, attracting the gaze of the multitude. The foundation of high expectations is easy to mount; the merit accumulated of old is truly a pity to waste. You ought to turn back from the past and cultivate the future, swiftly returning in allegiance to make apology before the vermilion gates. Equal in friendship through the Dao, family and state will both be preserved; lord and minister will be glorified together, and your person and name will attain security. With enlightened vision and thorough insight, your kinsmen will be at peace. Would this not be fine? Now the royal host is bound to take the field; in the ten directions, reins are eagerly raised. In their hands they hold the net of Dharma, and the sages dance in unison. The axe of the Dao shines before the vanguard; the divine drums resonate behind the rearguard. Once the sacred bell is struck, the ten directions will overturn, ocean waves will surge in breakers, and the land and plains will boil over. At that time, Sumeru will be enclosed in a single dust mote, heaven and earth will revolve upon a single chariot wheel, the Immovable [Realm] will rest upon the left lapel, and Extreme Joy will shine upon the right hand. With spiritual power such as this, how could it be resisted? Our King of the Dharma embodies the Dao with benevolence and compassion, unable to bear an immediate assault; he provisionally halts the armies and briefly pauses the divine reins, sending this letter on the road, hoping to turn back your misguided chariot. You should promptly determine a sound plan, bind your hands, and return to the palace, entrusting your life to the imperial court and wandering leisurely in the profound realm. With exalted renown shining within and a wanderer's form entrusted without, if you were not to assume office in the realm above, who else could? Now, wisdom values recognizing the opportune moment; clarity prizes avoiding calamity. Reaching an extremity and knowing to return is what the superior person praises. This is precisely the grand season to avert disaster and the fine time to achieve merit. In antiquity, when Jie of Xia was without the Dao, the King of Yin launched an expedition; when Zhou of Shang initiated chaos, King Wu of Zhou raised an army. These are the divination shells and tortoise-shells of past and present, a clear warning for you, General. Although our paths have parted in recent years, our refinement should be one in the flavor of the Dao. Why should the rugged distance between heaven and man cause estrangement? We expect you will promptly and unreservedly submit in response to this letter. The reason we have taken the pain to write these words in such detailed and earnest prose is that we do not wish the fragrant orchid to wither in summer, or the tall branch to have its shoots snapped. Ponder these words deeply and calculate well. Do not let your person be cast into the three wretched destinies, nor let the six heavens be overgrown with tares and weeds. Our hairs stand on end as we look about, our hearts filled with trepidation on your behalf. Sending this letter on the road, our feelings are much agitated; our words cannot fully convey our intent.