集沙門不應拜俗等事 2.13

2.13

Those who have left home are guests beyond the realm, whose traces are severed from things. As for their teaching, they understand that suffering and burden stem from having a physical form; thus they do not preserve the physical form to quell suffering. They know that successive rebirths stem from receiving transformation; thus they do not comply with transformation to seek the Ultimate. In seeking the Ultimate, they do not rely on complying with transformation; not complying with transformation, they do not value the resources that promote worldly progress. In quelling suffering, they do not rely on preserving the physical form; not preserving the physical form, they do not prize the benefits of enriching life. This is where principle departs from physical form, and the Way is contrary to worldly convention. Such persons make their vows when first casting aside the hairpin, and their resolve is manifested in changing their garments. Therefore, all who are in renunciation withdraw from the world to pursue their aspiration, and change worldly customs to attain their Way. Changing worldly customs, their garments and insignia cannot share the etiquette of mundane scriptures; withdrawing from the world, they must hold their conduct aloof. Because this is so, they are able to rescue the drowning worldly people from the sinking current, and pull up the mysterious root across manifold kalpas. They reach far through the ford of the Three Vehicles, and broadly open the path of devas and humans. If a single person perfects his virtue, then the Way will permeate the six relations and its benevolence will flow across the realm under heaven. Although he does not occupy the station of kings and lords, he already accords with the imperial ultimate and provides peace to the living people. Therefore, inwardly he departs from the gravity of natural kinship without violating filial piety; outwardly he lacks the courtesy of serving the sovereign without losing reverence. Looking at it from this perspective, we know that surpassing the surface of transformation to seek the Ultimate means the principle is profound and the significance is earnest; illuminating supreme peace to discuss humaneness means the merit is secondary and the benevolence is shallow. If this is so, even if someone faces the dark mountains and turns back his steps, he would still be ashamed to hear of their manner; how much more so to share filial piety and reverence with those people who comply with transformation and those worthies who merely occupy sinecures?