集沙門不應拜俗等事 4.20

4.20

一竊見神象所立。因人作形。形已作成人還返敬。豈以因人所立則不致尊。若不致尊立之何用。佛以遺教付囑國王。王之所立王還尊敬。如王不敬立之何益。

Third: We humbly observe that the images of gods are established through people making their forms; once the forms are made, people turn back and pay respect to them. Could it be that because they were established through people, one does not pay reverence? If one does not pay reverence, what is the use of establishing them? The Buddha entrusted his bequeathed teachings to the kings of states; what the king has established, the king turns back and reveres. If the king does not revere them, what is the benefit of establishing them?