廣弘明集 11.6

11.6

Your Majesty establishes the opening and closing of heaven's gate, renewing the precious throne, smoothing the obstructions and prosperities of the myriad things, and once again nurturing the black-haired people. Spread the non-action manner of Li Lao so that the people transform themselves; uphold the ritual of love and respect of Kong Qiu so that all under heaven practice filiality and compassion. Furthermore, the sūtras and teachings of the Buddha falsely proclaim sins and blessings, (Admonition: Investigating the origin of the teaching, it reveals the gate for people to cut off evil and opens the path for people to practice good) and soldiers and civilians fleeing corvée shave their hair to hide within them, failing to serve their two parents and exclusively practicing the ten evils. (Admonition: They renounce the affectionate love of their two parents to cultivate the benevolent manner of the ten virtues, bearing minor transgressions to achieve great compliance.) If they are not eliminated through the months and years, their treachery and deceit will grow even worse. I have examined the records and tallies from Baoxi down to Emperor Gao of Han: across twenty-nine dynasties and over four hundred rulers, one only hears of suburban sacrifices to the Lord on High, (Critique: The Round Altar and the southern suburbs do not escape the blame of killing living beings; how can they compare with the Buddhist precept where non-killing comes first? Weighing right and wrong, it can certainly be known!) with officials governing and people being examined; never has a temple hall or bronze image been seen to establish a society or pacify a state. I request that the perverse teaching of the barbarian Buddha be sent back to India, (Admonition: When conditions resonate, it flourishes; when the task is accomplished, it ceases. Coming and going, it responds to beings, concealing or revealing according to the time) and all śramaṇas be sent back to their home villages, so that the gangs evading their duties may all take pleasure in paying rent, and the groups dodging corvée may constantly rejoice in devoting their labor, rather than ordaining shaven-headed youngsters who make long bows without prostrating before the state. (Critique: Formerly, Yan Ziling did not bow to the Son of Heaven, and Zhao Yuanshu made a long bow to the Minister of Works; the canonical records praise their nobility. How much more so for the śramaṇa who is an otherworldly field of merit, and the son of Śākya who is a lofty gentleman beyond worldly things! To wish to make them pay homage and bow incurs deep harm; in principle, it cannot be allowed.) There will naturally be enough loyal ministers to stand night watch over the ancestral shrines. Then the Great Tang will be pacified, becoming the master of creation, and the common folk will be without troubles, becoming the people of Fuxi. (Critique: In the age of creation, people did not pay rent; the people of Fuxi patted their bellies and slept. When the sagely and enlightened is above, how could he believe the words of Cui Hao and Jiang Bin?) Your servant Yi is truly fearful and truly terrified, (Critique: Serving the ruler requires utmost loyalty, and words must be trustworthy. When a memorial is not true, the crime returns to oneself. Those who deceive the state must ultimately face the sword; how could mere fear and terror settle it?) and reverently presents eleven matters to benefit the state and profit the people as listed to the left. Respectfully submitted. (Critique: What you have memorialized damages the state and harms the people; it cannot be allowed!)