集沙門不應拜俗等事 1.41

1.41

公云。行功者當計其為功之勞。何得直以珍仰釋迦而云莫尚於此耶。請試言曰。以為佛道弘曠事數彌繁。可以練神成道。非唯一事也。至於在心無倦於事。能勞珍仰宗極。便是行功之一耳。前答所以云莫尚於此者。自謂擬心宗轍其理難向。非謂禮拜之事便為無最也。但既在未盡之域。不得不有心於希通。雖一介之輕微。必終期之所須也。

You say that those who perform practice and merit should calculate the toil of performing them, and ask how one can simply value and admire Śākyamuni and say nothing surpasses this. Let me venture to speak: I hold that the Buddha's Way is vast and its practices are exceedingly numerous; what can refine the spirit and complete the Way is not a single matter alone. As for keeping the mind tireless in practice and being able to toil in valuing and admiring the supreme ultimate, this is simply one aspect of practice and merit. The reason my former reply said "none surpasses this" meant that directing the mind to the supreme vehicle is a principle difficult to approach; it did not mean that the act of prostration is supreme above all else. But since we are still in the realm of the incomplete, we cannot help having our minds set on aspiring to penetrate it. Though as slight as a single straw, it is indispensable for the ultimate culmination.