弘明集 8.36

8.36

The 'Treatise Eradicating Delusion' says: The Crown Prince abandoning his wife and cutting his hair are matters clearly stated in the sūtras, yet to turn white into black—is that not deception? The filial piety of Buddhism encompasses far more: its principle originates in the mind and has no tie to hair. If one cherishes hair while abandoning the mind, how does that partake of filial piety? Formerly, Taibo and Yuzhong cut their hair and tattooed their bodies, and the Master praised them twice for utmost virtue. Adapting expediently as worthies within the mundane realm, they properly cultivated worldly decorum; cutting hair to yield the state is a celebrated tale of sages and philosophers. How much more so is the teaching of prajñā, whose undertakings surpass expedient adaptation, and the fruit of bodhi, whose principle is more subtle than overcoming oneself to yield! Because its principle is more subtle than yielding, one renounces hair to lay hold of the Dao; because its undertaking surpasses expedient adaptation, one abandons outward traces to seek the mind. Measured against the two worthies, there is no lack of filial piety; examined in light of the sagely realm, why find it strange?