鐔津文集 3.8

3.8

天下之有為者莫盛於生也。吾資父母以生。故先於父母也。天下之明德者莫善於教也。吾資師以教。故先於師也。天下之妙事者莫妙於道也。吾資道以用。故先於道也。夫道也者神用之本也。師也者教誥之本也。父母也者形生之本也。是三本者天下之大本也。白刃可冐也。飲食可無也。此不可忘也。吾之前聖也後聖也。其成道樹教。未始不先此三本者也。大戒曰。孝順父母師僧。孝順至道之法。不其然哉。不其然哉。

Among the conditioned things of the realm, none is more primary than life. I depend on my parents to be born; therefore, I put my parents first. Among the luminous virtues of the realm, none is better than instruction. I depend on my teacher for instruction; therefore, I put my teacher first. Among the wondrous matters of the realm, none is more wondrous than the Way. I depend on the Way for application; therefore, I put the Way first. The Way is the root of spiritual application; the teacher is the root of instruction and guidance; parents are the root of bodily birth. These three roots are the great roots of the realm. One may dare a naked blade; one may go without food and drink; but these cannot be forgotten. When our former sages and later sages accomplished the Way and established teachings, they never failed to give priority to these three roots. The Great Precepts say: 'Be filial and obedient to parents, teachers, and monks; be filial and obedient to the Dharma of the ultimate Way.' Is it not so? Is it not indeed so?