集沙門不應拜俗等事 6.40

6.40

恩勅令僧不拜君王而令拜其父母。斯則隆於敬愛之禮。闕於經典之教。僧寶存而見輕。歸戒沒而長隱。豈有君開高尚之迹。不勃佛言。臣取下拜之儀。面違聖旨。可謂放子。為求其福受拜。仍獲其辜。一化致疑。二理矛楯。伏願。請從君敬之禮。以通臣下之儀。塵黷扆旒。彌增隕越。謹言。

an imperial edict commanding that monks shall not bow to the sovereign ruler, but commanding them to bow to their parents. This elevates the etiquette of reverence and affection, yet it is deficient with regard to the teachings of the scriptures. While the jewel of the Saṃgha remains, it is despised; when the refuge and precepts are lost, they are perpetually obscured. How could the ruler open the path of high detached conduct without contradicting the Buddha's words, while the subjects adopt the etiquette of bowing down, directly going against the sagely will? It may be called releasing their children to seek their blessings, yet accepting their bows they still reap guilt; one transformation results in doubt, and two principles contradict each other. We humbly pray: we request to follow the etiquette of reverence shown to the ruler, so as to make consistent the propriety of the subjects below. Soiling and troubling the imperial screens, we are increasingly overcome with falling and stumbling. Respectfully submitted.