鐔津文集 2.26

2.26

聖人之教存乎道。聖人之道存乎覺。覺則明。不覺則不明。不明則群靈所以與聖人相間也。覺也者非漸覺也極覺也。極覺乃聖人之能事畢矣。覺之之謂佛。況之之謂乘。覺之以成乎聖人之道。乘之以至乎聖人之域。前聖也後聖也。孰不然乎哉。稽聖人之所覺。在乎群生之常覺也。眾生日覺而未始覺。覺猶夢。曉而猶昧。是故聖人振而示之。欲其求之引而趨之。欲其至之。人夫謂佛何。拒而訩之。為家而投珍。蹈路而捨地。惑亦甚矣。覺也者以言乎近則息塵勞靖神明正本以修末。以言乎遠則了大偽外死生至寂而常明。閑閑與聖人同德。覺之效也。如此大哉至乎。不可以言盡。不可以智得。神而明之。存乎其人。

The teaching of the Sage lies in the Way; the Way of the Sage lies in awakening. When there is awakening, there is clarity; when there is no awakening, there is no clarity. When there is no clarity, that is why the multitude of sentient spirits are separated from the Sage. Awakening is not gradual awakening, but ultimate awakening. With ultimate awakening, the Sage's capability is complete. One who awakens to it is called a Buddha; an analogy for it is called a vehicle. One awakens to it to accomplish the Way of the Sage; one rides it to reach the realm of the Sage. Sages of the past and sages of the future—who is not thus? Examining what the Sage awakened to, it lies in the constant capacity for awakening in all living beings. Living beings daily awaken yet have never awakened; their awakening is still like a dream, their dawn still like darkness. Therefore, the Sage aroused them and showed it to them, wishing that they seek it; he guided them and urged them on, wishing that they reach it. What do people say of the Buddha? They reject and clamor against him; this is abandoning treasures for the sake of home, casting aside the earth while treading the road—their delusion is extreme indeed! If spoken of in terms of what is near, awakening rests the labor of the dust, calms spiritual illumination, rectifies the root, and cultivates the branches. If spoken of in terms of what is distant, it comprehends great delusion, steps outside birth and death, reaches the utmost quiescence while remaining constantly luminous, and serenely shares the same virtue with the Sage. Such is the efficacy of awakening! How great! How ultimate! It cannot be exhausted in words; it cannot be grasped through intellect. Making it spiritual and illuminating it depends upon the person.