弘明集 8.65

8.65

The explanation says: When images were first established, they were not the original intention of the teaching. It was because after his passing into extinction, the longing and affection were endless; the sandalwood image is also clearly documented in texts. Furthermore, after Zhongni passed away, his three thousand disciples constantly expressed their deep longing. Because the appearance of You Ruo most resembled the Master, they had him sit in the lecture hall and expound the teachings, with the disciples looking up to him just as in former days. Zeng Shen stood up abruptly and said: 'Rise, sir! This is not your seat.' Deducing from this, their longing can well be understood. Dharma Master Kumārajīva was born in foreign lands; intelligent and profoundly learned, he was skilled at explaining the characteristics of phenomena. Carrying Buddhist scriptures on his back, he disseminated them in the Guanzhong region, explaining them through the two designations of ultimate and conventional, verifying them through the mutual quiescence of object and illumination. He raised the high wind of non-action and stirred the profound stream among those not yet awakened—this is what is called 'discarding until there is nothing left to discard.' When you say that barbarians do not believe in emptiness and non-being, this is truly not a solid argument. A noble person strengthens himself, and in principle there are superior and inferior qualities; it does not depend on images. In speaking merely on the basis of images, are you not attacking heterodox extremes?