破邪論 1.40

1.40

Fu [Yi] stated: "The arrival of the Buddha in the land of Han brought harm without benefit." Fu stated: "During the Jianwu era of the Zhao dynasty, the monk Zhang Guang rebelled; during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Liang dynasty, the monk Sengguang rebelled. How much more so now, with a host of two hundred thousand monks and nuns—they must be abolished immediately!"

To the first point, answering the matter of abolishing monks and nuns: It is replied: Indeed, external traces are easy to scrutinize, but truth and falsehood are difficult to distinguish; unless one lives with someone for a long time, they cannot be known. Formerly, Master Huiyuan's letter answering Huan Xuan stated: "Those described in the scriptural teachings comprise three classes in all: the first consists of those whose meditative contemplation penetrates the subtle; the second, of those who chant and relish the transmitted scriptures; and the third, of those who establish meritorious deeds. However, there are those who establish merit yet do not observe the prohibitive precepts, and whose traces are not those of an āraṇyaka; there are those who frequently recite the scriptural texts with unceasing intonation, yet cannot articulate their doctrines and principles; and there are those of advanced age who, although having nothing noteworthy in the three classes, are upright and righteous by nature and do not commit major transgressions. Comparing them according to these [standards], it is difficult to determine what to select and what to reject." According to the Sūtra on the Merit of Renunciation, to ordain one person to renounce household life surpasses raising a jeweled stūpa reaching to the Brahmā heaven. Why is this? A person is capable of propagating the Way, benefiting oneself and benefiting others, keeping oneself pure and establishing oneself, sustaining the Three Jewels, serving as a bridge across seven generations, and benefiting the state. Those who have crimes are to be disciplined and dealt with according to the law; those without fault should practice the Way for the sake of the state.

To the first point, answering [the proposal to] dismantle temples, give them to commoners, and house the images in thatched cottages: