鐔津文集 3.26

3.26

Daoji served his mother: whenever his mother traveled, he personally carried her on his back. If someone offered assistance, Daoji would always say, 'My mother is not your mother; the burden of her bodily form is my affair. How could I trouble you?' He can truly be called devoted to his parent. Huineng was fond of selling firewood to support his mother; when he was about to follow his teacher, he worried that he had no provisions stored for his mother and almost wished to hire himself out as a laborer to secure funds. By the time he returned, his mother had already passed away; lamenting that he could not see her with the Way, he turned his family home into a monastery to dedicate merit to her, and ultimately also returned to die there. Thus it is said, 'Fallen leaves return to their roots.' Master Neng was an extraordinary man; how could one measure his unique virtue? Yet he still demonstrated to people that he did not forget his roots. Daopi encountered the turmoil of his age, so he carried his mother on his back and fled into the Huayin Mountains, begging for food to support her. His father died in service, so Daopi went to seek his remains; when he arrived, the scattered bones could not be distinguished, so Daopi immediately prayed over them, and suddenly a skull leapt forward before him—it was indeed his father's remains! Daopi may be said to have practiced complete filial piety. Zhizang was an unbending and upright monk of antiquity: he served his master with greater reverence than he served his father, and when his master died, he observed inner mourning for three years. Changchao served his master in accordance with proper rites, and when he died, served him as if he were still alive; therefore the people of Yan praised his filial piety and fraternal respect. Thus the Vinaya ordains that disciples of the Buddha must reduce the funds for their robes and bowls to support their parents; these masters did not neglect their parents, and truly grasped the intention of the Sage. Zhizang and Changchao were meticulous in serving their teachers, which also accords with the Great Precepts from which the teaching arose; they can indeed serve as models.