集古今佛道論衡 4.39

4.39

維唐龍朔元年。京師西華觀道士朝散大夫郭行真所造。真以道本無形。形之於周魏。佛惟有像。像布於人天。故柱下之容。未足光於視聽。能仁之相。可謂超出幽明。故使石像浮江經生火聚。群儒奉之。如在書傳記而不渝。是使致敬彌勤奉持難絕。用斯上善通被下元。割見網於此生。獲正果於來際。貽諸末葉通斯致焉。

In the first year of the Longshuo era of the Great Tang, made by Guo Xingzhen, Daoist priest of Xihua Abbey in the capital and Court Gentleman for Miscellaneous Duties: Xingzhen considers that the Dao fundamentally has no form, yet took form in the Zhou and Wei dynasties; the Buddha uniquely has images, and his images are distributed throughout humans and devas. Thus the visage of the one beneath the Pillar is insufficient to illuminate sight and hearing; the marks of the Benevolent One may be said to surpass both the hidden and visible realms. Therefore stone statues floated on the river, and sūtras emerged unscathed from blazing fires. The Confucian scholars revered him as if present, recording this in books and chronicles without alteration. This causes reverent devotion to become ever more diligent and upholding practice never to cease. By this supreme good, may it extend completely to lower beings, cutting through the net of views in this life, and obtaining the correct fruit in the future. Bequeathed to future generations, may they comprehend this intent.