廣弘明集 29.46

29.46

夫生在三界。恒為四魔所嬈。沈淪生死遍在六趣。若一得人身及聞經法。譬見優曇。喻值浮孔。尋惟聖教實開心目。懿身處下流。元悕彼岸。直因生有惡此漏身。心去志恭徒然無補。略因愚管憑剿四魔。昔在年幼。嘗作破魔露布。文雖鄙拙頗為好事者所傳。自遷都之後。寓在洛陽。忽於故塔之中得此本文。時遇值今國都法師尚在金剛波若寺講勝鬘經。輒以呈示。得法師學涉內外甚好文彩。乃更披經卷賜示魔事。兼得擬符。時釋道安檄魔文共尋翫之。復竭愚淺修改舊文。更作平魔赦。重薦法師。更無嫌也。但安公檄文直推天魔。凡為世患經列有四。且天魔權變非浮情所測。煩惱陰死為患寔深。輒更起伐魔詔慰勞文。冠之於初。是以前後不同。文頗繁重。冀信心君子。兩得行之。輒并編安法師檄文為次。合為一卷。

Now, those who are born within the three realms are constantly troubled by the four māras, sinking in birth and death, pervading the six destinies. If one can once obtain a human body and hear the scriptural Dharma, it is like seeing an udumbara blossom, or encountering the floating log with a bore-hole. Carefully pondering the sacred teachings truly opens the eyes and mind. I, Yi, dwell in the lower reaches, yet originally longed for the other shore; simply because of being born into existence, I detest this leaking body. My mind was turned toward it and my intent was reverent, yet it was all in vain and without benefit. Relying on my meager perspective, I sought to eradicate the four māras. In my youth, I once composed the 'Banner Proclamation on Vanquishing the Māras.' Though the writing was crude and clumsy, it was circulated somewhat by curious seekers. Since the transfer of the capital, while residing in Luoyang, I suddenly found this original text inside an old pagoda. At that time, it happened that the present National Dharma Master was lecturing on the Śrīmālādevī-sūtra at the Vajraprajñā Temple. I presented it to him. The Dharma Master was learned in both internal and external texts and greatly fond of literary elegance; he then unrolled the scriptures, instructed me on the matters concerning māra, and also provided model talismans. At that time, we perused together the 'Declaration of War Against the Māras' by Shi Dao'an. I then exhausted my humble talents to revise the old text, further composing an amnesty on pacifying the māras, and offered it once more to the Dharma Master, who found no fault with it. However, Master Dao'an's declaration dealt directly only with the deva-māra; yet among the troubles of the world, the scriptures list four [māras]. Furthermore, the provisional transformations of the deva-māra cannot be fathomed by superficial thoughts, and the afflictions, the skandhas, and death are truly profound calamities. I therefore composed an 'Imperial Edict on Subduing the Māras' and a 'Letter of Consolation' to place at the beginning. Hence, the earlier and later parts differ, and the text is quite extensive. I hope that gentlemen of faithful mind may put both into practice. Thereupon, I have also compiled Master Dao'an's declaration in sequence, joining them into one fascicle.