集沙門不應拜俗等事 4.9

4.9

夫孝養所以事親。髮膚為立孝之始。敬忠所以奉上。跪拜申資敬之容。此固仰究天經俯窮人理。至夫真如寂滅言行俱盡。玄妙希夷窅冥難測　陛下恢弘正道闡闢妙門。興彼法徒膺茲冥祐。然而教非域中之政。形乃方外之儀。衣異國容。身無首飾。何以參搢紳於下拜。廁笄總而長跪。愚謂紹法象賢。可以朝不屈節。毀形自絕。可以家無降禮。且同巢許之流。有益勳華之盛。付囑之託。因循為善。既奉明勅。敢陳正議。謹議。

Now, filial support is that by which one serves parents; hair and skin are the beginning of establishing filial piety. Reverence and loyalty are that by which one serves superiors; kneeling and prostrating express the demeanor of respectful homage. This indeed reaches up to fathom celestial constancy and looks down to exhaust human propriety. As for the extinction of thusness, words and deeds are both exhausted; mysterious, subtle, indistinct, and silent, it is dark and difficult to fathom. Your Majesty magnifies the correct Way and opens the marvelous gate; raising those followers of the Dharma, You receive this hidden protection. However, their teachings are not the governance of the mundane realm; their appearance is the demeanor of transcending worldly bounds. Their robes differ from national garments, and their bodies lack head ornaments; how could they join the official class in bowing down, or mingle with those wearing hairpins and fillets in long kneeling? In our humble view, inheriting the Dharma and honoring the worthy allows them not to compromise their principles at court; modifying their form and cutting themselves off allows them to have no humbling etiquette at home. Furthermore, by being like the sort of Chao Fu and Xu You, they add to the flourishing of Yao and Shun. As for the charge of entrustment, following precedent is best. Having received the clear decree, we dare to submit a candid deliberation. Respectfully submitted.