三教平心論 1.11

1.11

When Li Shiqian of the Sui dynasty discussed the Three Teachings, he called the Buddha the sun, Daoism the moon, and Confucianism the five planets. Is it not that, just as heaven cannot lack any of the three luminaries, so the world cannot lack any of the Three Teachings? Although they differ in excellence, in essence they do not permit partial neglect. Yet people have differing minds, and minds hold differing views. Those who admire the Dao claim that the Buddha is not as reverend as the Dao; those who turn toward the Buddha claim that the Dao is not as great as the Buddha. The Confucians maintain themselves in rectitude and reject both Daoism and Buddhism, regarding them as heterodoxy. Affirming and denying, tangled in confusion—so it has been for hundreds and thousands of years. As I now intend to clarify and distinguish them, I submit that one must not judge with selfish bias, nor with a mind of love and hate. Only by calming one's mind and investigating their ultimate achievements can the matter dissolve away like melting ice. Now, “ultimate achievement” is the point where causes are gathered and fruit is produced. All affairs and things under heaven have their ultimate achievement. Soaking one's body and soiling one's feet is the affair of the farmer; when it comes to barns and granaries being full, that is the farmer's ultimate achievement. Traipsing through weeds and sleeping in the dew is the affair of the merchant; when it comes to gold filling his baskets, that is the merchant's ultimate achievement. The same holds true for the Three Teachings. Confucianism has its ultimate achievement; Daoism has its ultimate achievement; Buddhism has its ultimate achievement. When their relative superiority is viewed in terms of their ultimate achievements, it will be clear without awaiting debate.