廣弘明集 12.11

12.11

He also says: 'The monks secretly consort with spouses inside, while keeping their robes and outward forms separated; they abort fetuses and kill their children, violating propriety and opposing Heaven.' Now, since Daoist priests unite their qi in communal retreats and transmit teachings through mutual exchange, they should protect fetuses and give birth to children, according with propriety and harmonizing with Heaven. Yet in their case, though husband and wife have long been paired and yin and yang naturally joined, there are no births or pregnancies; this is truly destroying fetuses! They should be selected and ordered to become commoners, so that they may rear children, increase household registries, and supply soldiers. Would that not benefit the state and profit the people? He also says: 'There are one hundred thousand monks; if those aged sixty and under are selected and ordered to serve as corvée laborers, then the army will be strengthened and agriculture encouraged.' Now, in discussing military strength: if we examine the class of monks, they receive the teachings of the Tathāgata, eating only a vegetarian diet of rice and flour, relying for sustenance only on taro and konjac. Their bodies are emaciated and their strength is feeble; their minds are humble and their qi is weak. They do not break living grass; how could they trample insects? Practicing forbearance and cultivating compassion, they love life and hate killing. Facing an enemy, they would mostly be timid; striking a blow, they would surely hesitate. Laboring them in military ranks would be of no benefit to military strength. If we discuss Daoist priests, their numbers reach tens of thousands; they sacrifice to the Three and serve the Five, receive prohibitions, and write talismans. When presenting memorials, they must slaughter chickens and piglets; when making offerings, they demand wine and dried meat. Slicing mince and quaffing sweet wine, they indulge their drunken satedness. Their bodies are fat and their strength is robust; their minds are brave and their qi is vigorous. Callous and lacking affection, they hate life and love killing. Facing battle, they would surely be brave; striking a blow, they would never hesitate. Marshaled into military ranks, they would decisively strengthen the army. If one weighs physical strength, the Daoist priests are stronger; if one discusses virtue, the monks are superior. The appropriateness of what to discard and what to take can certainly be judged!