三教平心論 2.16

2.16

Emperor Taizong delivered the world and brought peace to the people, being a ruler without peer. Yet [Ouyang Xiu], detesting his re-establishment of the Buddhists, concealed his virtues and censured his shortcomings, designating him a ruler of mediocre capacity. Whenever people of the Tang turned to the Mahāyāna teaching and respectfully adhered to it in faith, he utterly disparaged them. When celebrated ministers and worthy grandees frequently associated with Chan monks and had fateful occasions and occurrences, he indignantly expunged them and would not record them. Furthermore, he said, "In an age without the Buddha, when the sounds of the Odes, the Documents, the Ya, and the Song prevailed, the people enjoyed blessings." Yet he failed to reflect that though schools were scrupulously instituted to establish instruction, those with sheep-like substance in tiger's skins, possessing the chirping of phoenixes but the wings of birds of prey, were everywhere overflowing; but upon hearing that doing good receives the recompense of heaven, a wholesome mind arises of its own accord without anticipation. Though rites and music were expounded to educate the people, those with the mouths and brushes of Yi Yin and the Duke of Dan, yet with the bodies and minds of Guan Zhong and Shang Yang, were ubiquitous; but upon hearing that doing evil incurs the suffering of hell, an unwholesome mind is spontaneously reformed without anticipation. Emperor Xiaozong's 'Inquiry into the Origin of the Way' states: "The Buddha established the five precepts, namely, not killing, not stealing, not engaging in sexual misconduct, not lying, and not drinking alcohol. Now, not killing is benevolence; not stealing is righteousness; not engaging in sexual misconduct is propriety; not drinking alcohol is wisdom; and not lying is trustworthiness. How can the Way of Zhongni (Confucius) be far from this?" Judged by this, how could the teaching of the Buddhists be inferior to the Odes, Documents, Ya, and Song?