廣弘明集 27.283

27.283

For those who should receive benefit through his extinction, his radiance was hidden between the twin śāla trees as he manifested entering nirvāṇa. This is truly because the obstructing karma of sentient beings is burdensome and manifold; therefore, the sagely transformations respond diversely according to needs. However, his manifesting entering nirvāṇa furthermore arouses a mind of grief and longing. Because of grieving yearning, the virtuous mind becomes profound and earnest. Whenever paying homage to images and stūpas, one should arouse a sorrowful mind and weepingly yearn for him, rendering one's feelings poignant as one reflects back upon the true Dharma: 'I could not gaze upon him and take refuge in him, and weeping, I think upon how I did not hear the Tathāgata’s voice in person; it is like entering the ancestral shrine of one's forebears and seeing the spiritual presence, yet sighing and sobbing without the face [to look upon them]. The Tathāgata earnestly enjoined us to cultivate all manner of ascetic practices, but we disobeyed and fell of ourselves into the evil destinies. Remaining in the Semblance and Final Dharma ages, we have not yet received liberation; because of this retribution of suffering, we recall the Tathāgata's kindness.' Therefore, we now each take refuge with our hearts in these images and stūpas, sobbing and shedding tears, with shameful countenances and choked with grief. With the utmost sincerity, on behalf of the Sovereign, the Empress, the Crown Prince, the sagely spirits of the Seven Imperial Ancestral Shrines, today's faithful donors, the eight classes of dragons and spirits, and extending broadly to all sentient beings in severe suffering, we pay homage to all the images and sacred shrines of the Tathāgatas in all the Buddha lands of the ten directions and the three periods of time.