三教平心論 2.30

2.30

Now, since the Buddhist teachings can neither be exhausted by Confucians nor reached by Confucians, who can say that they may be reviled? Han Yu reviled them because he did not understand the Buddha; earlier Confucians reviled them because they imitated Han Yu. I once saw in the *Alternative Biography of Han Yu* his question-and-answer dialogue with Dadian, which is very detailed. Yu said: "What you call the Buddha does not speak the model words of the former kings; how can I not denounce him?" Dadian said: "I reckon you must have chanted Buddhist scriptures. Can you speak of the points where you suspect they differ from the former kings?" Yu said: "What leisure do I have to read his books?" Dadian said: "If you have never read his books, how do you know that they do not speak the model words of the former kings? Moreover, could it be that having read the books of Confucius, you thereupon suspect he is wrong? Or having heard others consider him wrong, you thereupon consider him wrong? If, merely because you have read the books of Confucius, you thereupon suspect he is wrong, this is [acting like] Shun's dog. If, having heard others consider him wrong, you thereupon consider him wrong, this is [acting like] a concubine or wife. In ancient times, Shun's lodge kept a barking dog. From morning to evening, all it ever saw was Shun. One day Yao passed by Shun's lodge, and it barked at him. This was not because it loved Shun and hated Yao, but precisely because what it constantly saw was only Shun, and it had never seen Yao. Now you have made Confucius your study and have never read the books of the Buddha, yet you go along and find him strange—this is the view of Shun's dog. When a woman is married off, her mother sends her away, saying: 'Go to your home; you must be respectful and cautious, and do not disobey your husband.' Therefore, a woman follows her parents when at home, follows her husband when married, and follows her son when her husband dies; to the end of her life, she merely follows others. This is the way of a concubine or wife. Now hearing others consider him wrong, you immediately follow along and consider him wrong; this is the view of a concubine or wife." Judging from this, Yu's reviling of the Buddha was [acting like] Shun's dog; are not those who imitated Yu and reviled the Buddha [acting like] concubines and wives? Being Shun's dog or being a concubine or wife is solely because their seeing and hearing was not broad.