續集古今佛道論衡 1.31

1.31

帝曰。道有幾種。以何為宗。法師對曰。道有九十五種。並宗正法。其行有差。欲可觀者八種梵行。一者常修梵行。博通外典。事摩醯首羅天王以為天尊。求生空處識處非想非非想處。二者常修梵行博通外典。事大梵天王以為天尊。求生初禪二禪三禪四禪。三者常修梵行博通外典。事天尊求生炎摩天兜率天化樂天他化自在天。四者常修梵行博通外典。辯於論答。事六師弟子等以為師尊。求憑空滅絕有無。五者常修梵行志在仙學。善禁呪。事阿私陀仙以為仙尊。求五神丹服之。若得仙道會假風鳥力得昇霄漢。六者常修梵行志在醫學。善於符術。事阿私陀仙以為尊。求五芝草服之。若得仙道會假商劣得匿形影。七者常修梵行。事波頭大仙以為仙尊。求入火聚火不能損。八者常修梵行。事夷制叔羅水仙以為仙尊。求入江海水不能溺。此八種道。以梵行力得生天上。以不發正信迴向心故。天上壽盡還墮三惡道中。

The Emperor said, 'How many kinds of paths are there, and what do they take as their principle?' The Dharma Master replied, 'There are ninety-five kinds of paths, all taking the True Dharma as their source, though their practices diverge. Those worth observing are eight kinds of brahmacaryā. First, those who constantly cultivate brahmacaryā and are broadly versed in non-Buddhist texts: they serve the Heavenly King Maheśvara as their Celestial Worthy, seeking rebirth in the stage of space, the stage of consciousness, and the stage of neither perception nor non-perception. Second, those who constantly cultivate brahmacaryā and are broadly versed in non-Buddhist texts: they serve the Great Brahmā Heavenly King as their Celestial Worthy, seeking rebirth in the first dhyāna, the second dhyāna, the third dhyāna, or the fourth dhyāna. Third, those who constantly cultivate brahmacaryā and are broadly versed in non-Buddhist texts: they serve a celestial worthy seeking rebirth in the Yāma Heaven, Tuṣita Heaven, Nirmāṇarati Heaven, or Paranirmitavaśavartin Heaven. Fourth, those who constantly cultivate brahmacaryā, are broadly versed in non-Buddhist texts, and skilled in debate: they serve the disciples of the six teachers and others as their honored masters, seeking to rely on emptiness and extinguish existence and non-existence. Fifth, those who constantly cultivate brahmacaryā with their aim set on the study of immortals: they are skilled in incantations and serve the ṛṣi Asita as their honored immortal, seeking the five divine elixirs to ingest them; if they attain the way of immortals, they must rely on the power of the wind and birds to ascend to the clouds. Sixth, those who constantly cultivate brahmacaryā with their aim set on the study of medicine: they are skilled in talismanic arts and serve the ṛṣi Asita as their honored master, seeking the five types of zhi fungi to ingest them; if they attain the way of immortals, they can conceal their form and shadow. Seventh, those who constantly cultivate brahmacaryā: they serve the great ṛṣi Padmo as their honored immortal, seeking to enter masses of fire without the fire harming them. Eighth, those who constantly cultivate brahmacaryā: they serve the water ṛṣi Iṣiśukra as their honored immortal, seeking to enter rivers and seas without the water drowning them. These eight kinds of paths, by the power of brahmacaryā, attain rebirth in the heavens; because they do not give rise to correct faith and a mind of dedication, when their heavenly lifespan is exhausted, they fall back into the three evil paths.'