廣弘明集 25.78

25.78

議拜者。明沙門應致拜也。昔皇覺御宇。尚開信毀之源。豈唯像末不流弘約之議。頃以法海宏曠類聚難分有穢玄猷。頗聞朝聽致使拘文之士。廢道從人較而言之。未曰通方之巨唱也。余所以考諸。故實隨而彈焉。庶崇佛君子或能詳覽。

On the Discussions on Bowing: Demonstrating that śramaṇas should pay homage. In ancient times, when the Sovereign Enlightened One ruled the world, he still allowed the sources of faith and slander to arise; how could it be only in the Semblance and Final ages that broad and disciplined arguments do not circulate? Recently, because the ocean of the Dharma is vast and spacious, and different kinds of people mingle together so that it is hard to distinguish them, defilements have touched the profound teachings. This has come to the attention of the imperial court, leading literal-minded scholars to abandon the Way and conform to human sentiments. Comparing and discussing it, this cannot be called a grand and far-reaching pronouncement. This is why I have investigated ancient precedents and criticized them accordingly, in the hope that gentlemen who revere the Buddha might examine them in detail.