法苑珠林 99.5

99.5

夫神理無聲。因言辭以寫意。言辭無迹。緣文字以圖音。故字為言蹄。言為理筌。音義合符。不可偏失。是以文字應用彌綸宇宙。雖迹繁翰墨而理契乎神。但以經論浩博具錄難周。記傳紛綸事有廣略。所以導達群方開示後學。設教緣迹煥然備悉。訓俗事源欝爾咸在。搜檢條章討撮樞要。緝綴紙筆具列前篇。其餘雜務汲引濟俗。現可行者。疏之於後。冀令昏昧漸除法燈遐照也。

Now, the spiritual principle has no sound, but relies on words and speech to express meaning. Words and speech have no physical trace, but rely on writing to delineate sounds. Thus, characters are the snare for words, and words are the trap for principle. Sound and sense corresponding, neither can be missing. Therefore, the practical application of writing encompasses the universe; though traces proliferate in brush and ink, the principle harmonises with the spirit. However, because the sūtras and treatises are vast and extensive, recording them completely is hard to encompass; historical records and accounts are varied and copious, and the events have both detailed and abridged versions. Therefore, to guide the many regions and instruct later scholars, the conditions and traces for establishing the teachings are luminously complete, and the sources of matters for instructing worldly customs are abundantly present. Searching through regulations and articles, and summarising the essentials, I have compiled them with paper and brush, fully laying them out in the preceding chapters. As for other miscellaneous duties for guiding and helping the worldly that can be put into practice at present, I record them below, hoping that ignorance may gradually be eliminated and the lamp of the Dharma may shine far and wide.