三教平心論 1.7

1.7

嘗觀中國之有三教也。自伏羲氏畫八卦。而儒教始於此。自老子著道德經。而道教始於此。自漢明帝夢金人。而佛教始於此。此中國有三教之序也。大抵儒以正設教。道以尊設教。佛以大設教。觀其好生惡殺。則同一仁也。視人猶己則同一公也。徵忿窒慾禁過防非。則同一操修也。雷霆眾聵日月群盲。則同一風化也。由粗迹而論。則天下之理。不過善惡二塗。而三教之意。無非欲人之歸于善耳。故孝宗皇帝製原道辯曰。以佛治心。以道治身。以儒治世。誠知心也身也世也。不容有一之不治。則三教豈容有一之不立。無盡居士作護法論曰。儒療皮膚。道療血脈。佛療骨髓。誠知皮膚也血脈也骨髓也。不容有一之不療也。如是則三教豈容有一之不行焉。

I have observed the existence of the Three Teachings in China. Ever since Fuxi drew the eight trigrams, Confucianism began with this. Ever since Laozi composed the Daodejing, Daoism began with this. Ever since Emperor Ming of Han dreamed of the golden man, Buddhism began with this. Such is the sequence of the Three Teachings in China. In general, Confucianism establishes its teaching through rectitude; Daoism establishes its teaching through reverence; Buddhism establishes its teaching through greatness. If we observe their love of life and hatred of killing, they share the same benevolence. In regarding others as oneself, they share the same impartiality. In checking anger, restraining desires, prohibiting faults, and guarding against wrongdoing, they share the same cultivation and conduct. In thundering to awaken the deaf and shining as the sun and moon to enlighten the blind, they share the same civilizing influence. Considered from their coarse traces, the principles under heaven are nothing more than the two paths of good and evil, and the intent of the Three Teachings is nothing other than wishing to bring humanity to return to goodness. Therefore, Emperor Xiaozong composed the Discourse on Tracing the Way, saying: “Treat the mind with Buddhism; treat the body with Daoism; treat the world with Confucianism.” If one truly knows that among mind, body, and world, not one can be left untreated, then how could any of the Three Teachings be left unestablished? Layman Wujin composed the Treatise in Defense of the Dharma, saying: “Confucianism treats the skin; Daoism treats the bloodstream; Buddhism treats the bone marrow.” If one truly knows that among skin, bloodstream, and bone marrow, not one can be left untreated, then how could any of the Three Teachings be left unpracticed?