道宣律師感通錄 1.36

1.36

At last, one morning, General Wei arrived, paying homage and extending greetings without departing from the customary etiquette. He said: "I have often seen you, Master. When you were in the Anfeng Quarter, you first compiled the Guang hongming ji, dissecting and distinguishing the heterodox from the orthodox, making the sections clear and distinct. The previous [works] suited the profound meaning very well. I have always wished to visit you, but because the affairs of the Buddha and the saṃgha across the three continents are so vast, with disputes, litigation, raising of troops, and endless attacks, and because it is my duty to guard and protect, exhorting, advising, and speaking peace without a moment's rest, I sent the previous messengers to converse and deliberate with you. Today I was able to come temporarily, but cannot stay long. Master, you must now understand the decline and dimming of the Buddha-Dharma; the countries of India are not equal to this land. Although [monks] here break precepts, they are largely ashamed; though inwardly trespassing, outwardly they still guard carefully. Therefore, the devas, seeing one good deed in them, forget their hundred faults. If they see them committing transgressions, they all shed tears and guard them completely, not letting Māra's minions harass them," and so forth. I asked: "Is not the lord of the kāmadhātu Māra? Do not the lower devas all belong to him?"