法苑珠林 48.64

48.64

During the Zhou dynasty, Dharma Master Wangming, a śramaṇa of the Wei riverbank, admonished himself, saying: 'Even with the power to turn back heaven and overturn the sun, in a single morning one withers like grass. Even with the solidity of the boulders of Mount Tai, in an instant they are reduced to ashes. One definitely knows that worldly marks are impermanent, and floating life is illusory. Like the morning dew, how long can it stay? When a great person lives, they should conquer Māra; when they die, they should feed tigers. If not so, what is the use of living in vain? It is better to cultivate dhyāna concentration, which is sufficient to nourish one's aspiration, and read and recite the scriptures, which is sufficient to amuse oneself. Wealth, honor, and reputation only toil a person in vain.' He thereupon discarded his hairpins and caps, shaved his beard and hair, wore patched robes and carried a pewter staff, listening to lectures and discussing the profound. Because the warring states were not yet pacified, he had no place to settle himself. Despising his physical frame worse than shackles, he wished to sever the root of suffering but did not know its ferry. A Mahāyāna scripture states: 'One who practices as spoken is called a sage, not merely through what the mouth speaks.' A Hīnayāna gāthā says: