法苑珠林 55.36

55.36

Indeed, when heterodoxy and orthodoxy encroach upon each other, disasters and blessings become entangled. Unless one is an ultimate sage, how could one enlighten and guide [beings]? Therefore, the ninety-five kinds [of heterodoxies] revere the Heavenly Venerable of the upper realm; the twenty-five principles posit the dark root of sentient beings. All set forth what they call true Dharma, and all claim great deliverance. Furthermore, in the state of Lu, Master Kong [Confucius] guided the nine provinces with rites and music; in the state of Chu, Li Dan [Laozi] opened up the void and profound across the Five Marchmounts. Each served as ministers and officials in governing affairs, and both branched off within their bounded domains. Their disputations and governance were contradictory, and the path of principle sank away, causing the net of delusion to cover minds, so that none knew where to turn. They are not like the Sovereignly Awakened One, who is impartial, whose path delivers all realms of existence, to whom both the unseen and visible realms turn their hearts, and before whom ordinary beings and sages bow their heads. Just as heaven has no two suns and a country has no two rulers, throughout heaven above and heaven below, he alone is proclaimed universally honoured; the three thousand great thousand [worlds] all proclaim him the Fully Awakened One. He is the foremost guide of the four modes of birth, and the ferryman across the six destinies.