廣弘明集 7.42

7.42

A man of Zhaojun. He was versed in the classics and history and skilled in yin and yang. Seeing families in mourning anxious over vegetarian feasts, offerings, and merit, he would say: 'Buddhism neglects parents and despises emperors; it abandons the six relations and casts aside propriety and righteousness. Wearing ochre garments and shaving the head, they liken themselves to punished convicts; preaching reckless falsehoods to dazzle and confuse, they draw close only to profit. The schools of Yin-yang, Names, and Mozi, though full of errors and harsh scrutiny, contain things worth adopting in seasonal regulations and frugality. As for this method, it damages civilization, attaches itself to the obscure, and fosters the ways of ghosts. How lamentable that the entire state is deluded! They are many, and I am alone. How sorrowful! When I die, let all meritorious rituals be entirely abolished. To abandon China and adopt barbarian customs is something the discerning do not permit.' His younger brother Gai, styled Jijie, when composing texts and reading Buddhist sutras, would hold them between his toes. These were the chief ringleaders of stubborn obstinacy and self-preservation among the northern border gentry and commoners. How lamentable! In life they lived in vain, possessing no supreme goodness to nurture the spirit; in death they died in vain, having base evil that sinks them into retribution. Blindly following karma, when can they return to the origin? Knowing nothing of the future, how can they understand the present? How do they differ from herds of beasts and foolish old men?