[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [廣弘明集](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2103) › 10.16 # 廣弘明集 10.16 廣弘明集 10.16 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [10.16](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2103.10.16) 奏曰。若言壞佛有益毀僧益民。昔太祖康曰玄鑒萬理智括千途。必佛法損化即尋除蕩。寧肯積年奉敬興遍天下。又佛法存日損處是何。自破已來成何利潤。若實無益寧非不孝。詔曰。法興有時道亦難准。制由上行王者作則。縱有小利尚須休廢。況佛無益理不可容。何者敬事無徵招感無効。自救無聊何能益國。自廢已來民役稍希。租調年增兵師日盛。東平齊國西定妖戎。國安民樂豈非有益。若事有益。太祖存日屢嘗討齊。何不見獲。朕壞佛法。若是違害亦可亡身。既平東夏。明知有益。廢之合理義無更興。 > \[Dao\]lin presented a memorial, saying: "If it is said that destroying the Buddha brings benefit and abolishing the Saṅgha benefits the people, formerly Emperor Taizu Kang possessed profound discernment of myriad principles and his wisdom encompassed a thousand paths. If the Buddha-Dharma had indeed harmed transformation, he would immediately have eradicated it; how could he have respectfully venerated it for accumulated years, causing it to flourish throughout all under Heaven? Furthermore, while the Buddha-Dharma existed, where was the harm? Since it was suppressed, what benefit and profit have been accomplished? If indeed there was no benefit, how would this not be unfilial?" > > The edict said: "The flourishing of teachings has its seasons, and the Way is difficult to fix by standard. Decrees proceed from above; the king serves as the model. Even if there were minor benefits, it must still be abandoned, not to mention that the Buddha brings no benefit and in principle cannot be tolerated. Why? Reverent service brings no verification, and invocation achieves no effect. When \[a religion\] cannot even save itself in distress, how can it benefit the state? Since it was abolished, the corvée of the common people has gradually lessened, taxes and levies have increased year by year, and armies have grown mightier day by day. To the east we pacified the Qi state, and to the west subdued the monstrous barbarians. The realm is secure and the people rejoice; how could this not be beneficial? If this matter is beneficial, then while Taizu was alive he repeatedly campaigned against Qi, so why was he not victorious? When We destroyed the Buddha-Dharma, if this were contrary and harmful, We should also have perished. Having pacified the eastern Xia, We clearly know it is beneficial. Abolishing it accords with reason; in principle it shall not be re-established." > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 10.15](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2103.10.15) - [Next: 10.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2103.10.17) - [Up: 10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2103.10) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2103~en-mt.10.16) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2103.10.16](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2103.10.16) · Pramāṇa