廣弘明集 1.12

1.12

太宰嚭問孔子曰。夫子聖人歟。對曰。丘也博識強記非聖人也。又問。三王聖人歟。對曰。三王善用智勇。聖非丘所知。又問五帝聖人歟。對曰。五帝善用仁義。聖非丘所知。又問。三皇聖人歟。對曰。三皇善用時。聖非丘所知。太宰大駭曰。然則孰為聖人乎。夫子動容有間曰。丘聞西方有聖者焉。不治而不亂。不言而自信。不化而自行。蕩蕩乎人無能名焉。據斯以言。孔子深知佛為大聖也。時緣未升故默而識之。有機故舉。然未得昌言其致矣。

Grand Minister Pi asked Confucius, saying: "Is the Master a sage?" He replied: "Qiu has broad knowledge and a strong memory, but is not a sage." He asked again: "Were the Three Kings sages?" He replied: "The Three Kings were good at employing wisdom and courage; whether they were sages is not known to Qiu." He asked again: "Were the Five Emperors sages?" He replied: "The Five Emperors were good at employing benevolence and righteousness; whether they were sages is not known to Qiu." He asked again: "Were the Three Sovereigns sages?" He replied: "The Three Sovereigns were good at employing timely seasons; whether they were sages is not known to Qiu." The Grand Minister was greatly startled and said: "If so, then who is a sage?" The Master altered his expression for a while and said: "Qiu has heard that in the west there is a sage: he does not govern yet there is no disorder; he does not speak yet he is naturally trusted; he does not transform yet things naturally proceed. Vast and boundless, people cannot name him!" Arguing from this, Confucius deeply knew that the Buddha was the Great Sage. Because the conditions of the time were not yet ripe, he silently recognized it. Having the opportunity, he therefore raised it, though he could not yet proclaim its essence openly.