集沙門不應拜俗等事 1.23

1.23

Third Memorial: Your servant Chong and others state: Although your servants are truly unenlightened and do not comprehend your profound intent, yet as for our earnest diligence, day and night we contemplate adhering to the royal standard. How could we recklessly cling to a partial viewpoint and disrupt the great social bonds? It is simply that from the Han and Wei down to the Jin, no divergent opinions were heard, and the codes of noble and base were never once compromised. Now, the strict observance of the precepts by śramaṇas is purely focused, and when it comes to their rituals, they are unified and singular. As for those who are devoted in observing the precepts, they do not begrudge even the loss of life; how would they dare to use their bodily frames to slight ritual reverence? Whenever we observe them burning incense and offering prayers, they invariably put the state first; their desire for the flourishing of good fortune and protection knows no bounds. Serving their superiors and venerating obedience stems from what is natural to them. The simplicity of their rites and ceremonies is precisely because of their single-minded adherence to the Dharma. Therefore, when former sages governed the world, they accommodated them and did not alter their ways. The net of Heaven is vast; though wide-meshed, it lets nothing slip through. Your servants repeatedly maintain that not requiring them to bow entails no detriment to the royal law. Benefiting them by according with what benefits them will ensure that neither the worthy nor the foolish dare fail to exert their sincerity; then above there will be the grace of Heaven covering and Earth sustaining, and below there will be people who preserve the One and cultivate goodness. Respectfully we present once more our foolish and shallow views, hoping they may receive your examination. Respectfully submitted. — At that time, Yu Bing's proposal was shelved, and [the śramaṇas] ultimately did not render homage.