鐔津文集 2.17

2.17

聖人以五戒之導世俗也。教人修人以種人。修之則在其身。種之則在其神。一為而兩得。故感人心而天下化之。與人順理之謂善。從善無迹之謂化。善之故人慕而自勸。化之故在人而不顯。故天下不可得以校其功。天下不可得以議其德。然天下鮮惡孰知非因是而損之。天下多善。孰知非因是而益之。有謂佛無所助夫王者之治天下者。此不睹乎理者也。

When the sage guides the worldly with the five precepts, he teaches people to cultivate humanity in order to plant humanity. Cultivating it resides in one's person; planting it resides in one's spirit. Undertaking one action yields both results; therefore, it moves the minds of people and the world is transformed. Befriending people and according with principle is called goodness; following goodness without leaving traces is called transformation. Because it is good, people admire it and encourage themselves; because it is transformation, it resides within people without being overt. Hence the world cannot tally its merit; the world cannot reckon its virtue. Yet when evil is rare in the world, who knows that it was not reduced because of this? When goodness is abundant in the world, who knows that it was not increased because of this? Those who say the Buddha offered no assistance to a sovereign's governing of the world are simply those who have not perceived the principle.