廣弘明集 10.20

10.20

奏曰。仰承聖旨。如披雲覩日。伏聽勅訓。實如聖說。道不自道非俗不顯。佛不自佛惟王能興。是以釋教東傳時經五百。弘通法化要依王力。方知道藉人弘神由物感。佛之盛毀功歸聖旨。道有興廢義無恒久。法有隱顯理難常存。比來已廢義無即行。休斷既久興期次及。與廢更迭理自應機。並從世運。不亦宜乎。

[Dao]lin presented a memorial, saying: "Looking up to receive the sage's intent is like parting the clouds to see the sun. Prostrating to hear the imperial admonition, it is truly as the sage has spoken. The Way cannot remain the Way by itself; without the profane it is not manifested. The Buddha cannot remain the Buddha by himself; only a king can make him flourish. Thus the teaching of Śākya was transmitted eastward over five hundred years, and the propagation of its Dharma transformation depended essentially on royal power. Only now do we know that the Way relies on humanity for its propagation, and spiritual efficacy arises through resonance with living beings. The flourishing and destruction of the Buddha trace their achievement back to the sage's intent. The Way has its flourishing and abolition; in principle it cannot endure forever. The Dharma has its hiding and manifesting; in reason it is difficult to preserve perpetually. Of late it has been abolished, so in principle it cannot be practiced immediately. Having been suspended and severed for long, the time for its flourishing is next in turn. Alternating between abolition and promotion, the principle naturally responds to the capacity of the times. For both to follow worldly cycles—is this not appropriate?"