廣弘明集 14.17

14.17

Fu says: 'The four kinds—men of the Way, earthen owls, donkeys, and mules—are all evil breeds of greed and rebellion.' These, too, are unconsidered words. Because they renounce the world to cultivate the Way, they are called 'men of the Way.' In studying the Way, they depart from greed; why call them greedy and rebellious? If he means 'greedy for the Bodhi path and rebelling against the stream of birth and death,' then Master Fu, in putting forth these words, has failed to understand this principle. Look at the Vinaya practices of śramaṇas: they practice what others cannot practice; they cease from what others cannot cease from. This is fully set forth in the Buddhist scriptures and can be investigated. Even to wriggling creatures they do no harm; how much less would they commit the deeds of owls and jing-beasts? Even the rites of marriage they renounce and do not perform; how much less would they engage in the behavior of birds and beasts? Why then take superior persons free from desire and equate them with inferior beasts that share their mates; take worthy talents who possess the Way and compare them to ignorant donkeys and mules; defame the virtuous assembly of great compassion and liken them to evil birds of ill omen; call men of the Way a rebellious breed and compare pure conduct to the hearts of beasts? How extreme is this injury to the good! How sudden is this turning of white into black!