廣弘明集 10.29

10.29

[Dao]lin presented a memorial, saying: "Dragons and tigers take scales and fangs as their capabilities; monkeys and birds take jumping and soaring as their talents. The gentleman takes understanding and practice as the Way; the worthy and wise take truth and reality to complete virtue. Hence internal and external praise the extraordinary, and the black-robed and white-robed value the lofty. If there is only understanding without practice, it is like a sandy well lacking moisture; if one is solely empty without substance, it is like empty clouds without rain. Therefore, craftsmen of the myriad things take the plumb line and marking cord as correct; those who govern all under Heaven take laws and principles as fundamental. Thus they can properly prevent the sprouting of evil and guard against sedition and treachery. Hence the fault of a single act hurts worse than cutting the flesh, and the goodness of a single word weighs heavier than a thousand pieces of gold. If a subtle understanding in the root of the mind could turn dwelling in evil into good, and an empty and clear spiritual wisdom could turn abiding in guilt into blessing, then my humble substance could be transferred to occupy the heavy responsibility of Heaven, and your sacred, supreme reverence could be shifted to occupy my lowly position. This would throw ruler and ministers into confusion and overturn high and low. In practical terms this is impossible; it has never existed from antiquity to the present. How is this different from speaking words of loyalty and filial piety while one's person is perpetually in rebellion, or discoursing on compassion and renunciation while physically always killing and stealing, or being verbally adept in a hundred skills yet incapable in any affair, or speaking of knowing ten thousand miles without setting foot outside the gate? These are all feelings running ahead while reality falls short, empty elevation without practical use. Therefore, talent may be great yet useless, while a principle may be minor yet bound to be effective. To cling to this as the Way is truly difficult to place faith in."