集沙門不應拜俗等事 4.32

4.32

The rise of Buddhism began in Tianzhu. Your minister has been an envoy three times and has seen and heard a fair amount. Your minister has heard that King Śuddhodana was the Buddha's father and Mahāmāyā was the Buddha's mother. The monk Upāli was originally a slave of the royal household; the king and his kin bowed to all of them, showing reverence identical to that shown to the Buddha. Your minister also saw the rules of monks and nuns in that country: they do not bow to the shrines of gods and spirits, nor do they bow to rulers and parents. Kings and parents all pay homage to monks, nuns, and the various assemblies of the Way. Your minister once challenged those monks, saying: 'These slaves have only just shaved their hair and put on black robes, possessing no special understanding. Yet the ruler and father are made to pay reverence to them; this is deeply contrary to human sentiment.' The monk replied: 'Though they have only just shaved their heads, their form is already identical to the Buddha's, and they can moreover shake Māra's palace. Although they are said to lack knowledge, are they not like mud and wood? Once mud and wood are set up as the principal image, even if one is widely learned, noble, and eminent, can one fail to pay reverence?' That monks do not bow to laypeople is already clear.