廣弘明集 3.20

3.20

凡夫曚蔽不見未來。故言彼生與今生非一體耳。若有天眼鑒其念念隨滅生生不斷。豈可不怖畏耶。又君子處世。貴能克己復禮濟時益物。治家者欲一家之慶。治國者欲一國之良。僕妾臣民與身竟何親也。而為其勤苦修德乎。亦是堯舜周孔虛失愉樂。一人修道濟度幾許蒼生。免脫幾身罪累。幸熟思之。

Ordinary people are deluded and blind, not seeing the future; hence they say that that life and this life are not of the same substance. If they had the divine eye to perceive that each thought perishes in succession and life after life is unbroken, how could they not be terrified? Furthermore, when a gentleman dwells in the world, what he values is being able to restrain himself, return to propriety, rescue the times, and benefit things. One who governs a family desires the blessing of the entire household; one who governs a state desires the excellence of the entire country. What intimacy do servants, handmaids, ministers, and commoners ultimately have with one's own person, that one should labor and toil to cultivate virtue on their behalf? If that were so, Yao, Shun, the Duke of Zhou, and Confucius also fruitlessly missed out on joy and pleasure. When one person cultivates the Way, how many living beings are ferried across? How many burdens of guilt throughout lifetimes are escaped? Please consider this thoroughly.