集沙門不應拜俗等事 3.16

3.16

Monk Daoxuan and others petition: Since the tracks shifted from the Golden River and the transformation spread from the Jade Gate, through past sagacious rulers and eminent ministers, none failed to bow their heads to ask for the Way, turning toward it and knowing the ford. Thus monasteries faced one another in rows, and benevolent shrines were spread like chess pieces. Devas and humans looked up to the path of the field of merit; the seen and unseen harbored the etiquette of the correct path. Pure believers gathered like dense forests; noble guests gathered like clouds. This caused the teaching to divide into the three methods, providing the model of deportment for ten thousand ages, and ranks to open into the fourfold assembly, spreading the pure standards of the five vehicles. Recently, as the sea of Dharma is vast, categories of people mingle and are difficult to distinguish. Transgressions have become conspicuous, presumptuously defiling the imperial gaze, leading to the descent of an extraordinary edict commanding us to bow to ruler and parents. Yet deigning to show compassion, an open decree for court deliberation was granted. We monks, having received this clear command, weep with sorrow and emotion; this is truly because our practice has lacked luster in our time, thereby causing the Sovereign above to be burdened with concern. Furthermore, since the teaching of Dharma spread eastward, it has repeatedly undergone troughs and peaks: three times suppressed and abolished, five times subjected to prostrations—all were times that were not luminous and glorious, and all were rulers who were violent and tyrannical. Hence, the decrees they issued were not statecraft for governing the country, and departing from the constant, they incurred the censure of good historians. The matter and principle being difficult to reverse, they returned to following the old ford. Prostrate, we reflect that Your Highness oversees the capital region and controls the pivot of government; monastics and laypeople are revived, and manifold affairs are tranquilized. Now the Dharma gate is blocked and the voice of the teaching cannot be transmitted. At this moment of stilling obstacles and extricating from difficulties, this day of rescuing the drowning and supporting the imperiled, we monks cry out at the palace gates but can hardly reach them, gazing in vain toward the cranes of the ninefold palace, while the heavenly steps are rare to climb, leaving us anxious among a hundred worries. Therefore, we venture to declare our sincerity, opening our hearts in the hope of receiving grand favor and the bestowal of assistance and harmony from above. In this way, by revering and upholding the entrustment, the pure breeze will cover the nine divisions of the realm; the True and Image Teachings will rise again, and great blessings will illuminate the four seas. Unable to bear this extreme impasse, we have fully stated our petition. For the depth of this intrusion, we know only shame and apprehension. Respectfully petitioned on the twenty-fifth day of the fourth month.