集沙門不應拜俗等事 1.21

1.21

The second memorial: He Chong, Minister of the Department of Affairs of State, Champion General, Army Pacifying General, and Marquis of Duxiang; He Sha, Cavalier Attendant Regular, Left Vice Director of the Department of Affairs of State, and Count of Changping; Zhuge Hui, Cavalier Attendant Regular, Right Vice Director of the Department of Affairs of State, and Count of Jian'an; Feng Huishou, Minister of State and Marquis of Guanzhong; Xie Guang, Minister of State and Viscount of Chang'an; and others state: The edict is as stated above. We, your ministers, are dim and shallow, insufficient to praise the sagacious intent or proclaim the great principle. Bowing to read the enlightened edict, we tremble with fear and unease. We have together examined the matter: whether there is a Buddha or no Buddha is truly not something we can determine. However, examining his surviving texts and probing his essential tenets, the prohibitions of the five precepts genuinely aid the royal transformation; they demean visible worldly fame and conduct, and value invisible hidden discipline. Their practice of virtue lies in forgetting oneself, cherishing the pure subtlety of a unified mind. Moreover, arising from the Han dynasty down to the present day, although the Dharma has had periods of prosperity and decline, its defects have never involved demonic delusion. In terms of spiritual ways, its enduring longevity has had no equal. While curses bring harm, blessings surely bring benefit. Our sincere desire is truly that our slight contributions of dust and dew may moisten Mount Song and Mount Dai, and our humble prayers may above assist the imperial sovereign. If we now make them bow at once, their Dharma will be ruined, and the custom of cultivating goodness will be abolished in this sagacious age. When habit becomes constant practice, it will surely cause grief and distress; in our hearts, we privately feel uneasy. Although we are obtuse, how could we dare confuse the imperial hearing with prejudiced views? We merely believe that through three reigns, the rulers have been bright and sagacious; if no new restriction is made now, there will be no defect in the royal law, and the path to the unseen realms will not be obstructed. Therefore, we again present our sincere thoughts, begging for your imperial examination and reflection. Respectfully submitted.