集沙門不應拜俗等事 4.15

4.15

竊以。臣子跪拜固是常規。爰在禮經兼有權制。母拜其子。以禮成人。不臣其臣。以尊道德。況方外之教。為善不同。道有凌虛。佛無生滅。修心練行。因果是憑。名曰出家。明超俗表咸言勝業。歷代俱尊盛立道場。皆求常樂。獻君親以廣福。濟含識於冥塗。久大而論高於俗教。若同儒例還入俗流。不尚學徒無由顯道。賴有崇護道獲常存。不拜之儀以彰深護。尊道之本取益為宗。今據經文云。拜非利人益國。實所宜言。非益之文何容敢進。循法仍舊無闕彝章。體妙窮深非下能及。幸霑芻議。敢竭愚誠。懼不合宜。追深戰灼。謹議。

We humbly consider: That ministers and sons kneel and prostrate is indeed the constant regulation; yet in the Ritual Classics there are also provisional accommodations: a mother bows to her son in order to treat him as an adult by ritual, and a ruler does not treat his minister as a subject in order to honor his virtue and the Way. How much more so for the teachings beyond the realm, whose practice of goodness is different: Daoism has the ascending into the void, while Buddhism has no arising and ceasing. Cultivating the mind and training conduct, they rely upon cause and effect. It is named 'renunciation,' clearly surpassing the worldly sphere, and all call it an exceptional enterprise. Successive dynasties have all revered it and extensively established bodhimaṇḍas. All seek eternal bliss, dedicating vast merit to the ruler and parents, and rescuing conscious beings from the dark paths. In terms of enduring greatness, they are higher than worldly teachings. If they were assimilated to the Confucian model and returned to the worldly flow, not exalting disciples, there would be no means to manifest the Way. Relying on devotion and protection, the Way attains permanent preservation. The rite of not bowing is used to manifest profound protection. The foundation of revering the Way takes bringing benefit as its principal concern. Now, according to the sūtra texts, it says that bowing does not benefit the people or profit the state; this is indeed what ought to be said. If a text does not offer benefit, how could we dare present it? Following the law and adhering to the old brings no defect to the constant statutes. To realize the subtle and plumb the profound is beyond the reach of those below. Having the fortune to offer our humble suggestions, we dare exhaust our foolish sincerity. Fearing it may be inappropriate, we are deeply seized by anxiety and trembling. Respectfully deliberated.