廣弘明集 7.18

7.18

濟云。陛下以因果有必定之期。報應無遷延之業。故崇重像法供施彌隆。勞民伐木。燒掘螻蟻損傷和氣。豈顧大覺之慈悲乎。胡鬼堪能致福。可廢儒道。釋禿足能除禍。屏絕干戈。今乃重關以備不虞。擊柝以爭空地。殺螻蟻而營功德。既乖釋典崇妖邪而行諂祭。又虧名教。五尺牧竪猶知不疑。四海之尊義無二三其德。臣為陛下不取五也。

Ji said: 'Your Majesty believes that cause and effect have a definite term, and that retribution has no delayed karma; therefore, you revere the semblance Dharma and make offerings and alms ever more lavishly. You exhaust the people and fell timber, burning and digging up mole crickets and ants, and harming the harmonious qi—how is this mindful of the Great Enlightened One's compassion? If barbarian ghosts can indeed bring blessings, we might abolish Confucianism and Daoism; if shaven-headed Śākyan disciples can truly avert calamity, we might cast aside weapons of war. Yet now [the realm] doubles the guards to prepare for unforeseen events and beats the clappers to contest empty territory. To kill mole crickets and ants to build merit already contravenes the Buddhist scriptures; to revere bewitching evils and practice flattering sacrifices further blemishes the moral teachings. Even a five-foot herdsboy knows not to doubt [this]; the sovereign of the four seas by principle should not have second or third thoughts about his virtue. For Your Majesty's sake, this is the fifth reason your servant does not accept [it].'