諸經要集 14.5

14.5

夫稟形六趣。莫不戀戀而貪生。受質二儀。並皆區區而畏死。雖復升沈萬品。愚智千端。至於避苦求安。此情何異。所以驚禽投案。猶請命於魏君。窮獸入廬。乃祈生於區氏。漢王去餌。遂感明珠之酬。楊寶施華。便致白環之報。乃至沙彌救蟻。現壽長生。流水濟魚。天降珍寶。如此之類。寧可具陳。豈容縱此無厭供斯有待。斷他氣命絕彼陰身。遂令抱苦就終銜悲向盡。大地雖廣無處逃藏。昊天既高靡從啟訴。是以經云。一切畏刀杖。無不愛壽命。恕己可為喻。勿殺勿行杖。但凡俗顛倒。邪見無明。或為吉凶公私祭祀瞻待賓客。營理庖厨。烹宰雜類之身。供擬眾人之膳。或復年移歲晚。事隙時閑。天慘慘以降霜。野炎炎而逼燒。於是駕追風之快馬。捧奔電之良鷹。劍則巨闕干將。弓則烏號繁弱。遂傾諸藪薄。罄彼林叢。顛覆巢居。剖破窟宅。罝羅亘野。𮊑網彌山。或前路微遮。左邀右截。埃塵漲日煙火衝天。遂使鳥失侶而驚飛。獸離群而奔透。雁聞弦而競落。猨抱樹而哀吟。莫不臨嶮谷而悲號。對高林而絕叫。於是箭非苟發。弓不虛彈。達腋洞胸。解頭陷腦。或復垂綸濁渚。散餌清潭。學釣鯉於河津。同射鮒於井谷。朱鱗已掛。無復待信之能。素質既懸。長罷躍舟之瑞。霏膾形軀。有枮盤而雨散。或復獫狁孔熾。宜申薄伐。邊境逆命。事資神武。雖復賢良帝主尚動干戈。哲后明君。猶須征伐。所以升陑之役。乃著高名。牧野之師。方稱盛德。其中或有擁百萬而橫行。提五千而深進。碎曹公於赤壁。撲項帝於烏江。懸莽首於高臺。橫卓屍於都市。並皆英雄。一旦威武。當時如此之流。弗可為記。莫不積骨成山。流血漂杵。今者王師雷動。掃殄妖逆。揚兵擁節。候境覘邊。既預前驅。叨居後勁。雲旗之下。寧敢自安。霜刃之間。信哉多嶮。故刀下叩頭。矟下乞命。如斯之罪不可具陳。凡是眾生有相侵害。為怨為隙。負命負身。或作短壽之因。便招多病之果。願從今日。永斷相續。盡未來際。為菩提眷屬。不壞良緣法城等侶矣。

Now, those who receive bodily form across the six destinies without exception cling passionately to life and covet living; those endowed with physical substance between the two modes of heaven and earth are all alike anxious and terrified of death. Although ascending and descending through ten thousand varieties, and differentiated into a thousand extremes of folly and wisdom, when it comes to fleeing suffering and seeking ease, how could this sentiment differ? Therefore, the frightened bird flew to the desk, still pleading for its life before the ruler of Wei; the desperate beast entered the hut, thereby begging for survival from Master Ou. The Han emperor cast aside the bait, and thereupon was rewarded with the gift of a luminous pearl; Yang Bao gave freedom to the bird, and so received the recompense of white jade rings. Even to a novice saving ants, who in this life attained longevity; or Flowing Water rescuing the fish, when heaven showered down precious gems: how could matters of this kind be completely enumerated? How could one indulge this insatiable desire to provide for this transient body, cutting off another's breath of life and severing their aggregate-body, thus causing them to embrace suffering unto death and harbor grief toward their demise? Though the great earth is broad, there is nowhere to flee and hide; though the vast heaven is high, there is no place to submit one's appeal. Thus the sūtras say: 'All tremble at the rod; none do not love life. Taking oneself as a comparison, do not kill, do not strike.' Yet ordinary mortals are topsy-turvy, possessed of wrong views and ignorance. Sometimes for auspicious or inauspicious, public or private sacrifices, or for entertaining guests, they manage the kitchen, cooking and slaughtering the bodies of various creatures to prepare meals for the multitude. Or again, as the year shifts and the season grows late, during lulls in affairs and periods of leisure, when the sky turns grim with falling frost and the wilderness is blazed with encroaching fires, they mount swift steeds that chase the wind and carry fine falcons swift as lightning; their swords are Juque and Ganjian, and their bows are Wuhao and Fanruo. Thereupon they lay waste to marshes and thickets, exhausting the forests and groves, overturning arboreal nests and shattering burrows and dens. Trapping-nets stretch across the wilderness, and bird-nets cover the mountains. Either the road ahead is lightly blocked, or they intercept from the left and cut off from the right; dust obscures the sun and smoke and fire surge toward the heavens. Birds, losing their mates, fly in terror; beasts, separated from their herds, bolt and scramble. Wild geese, hearing the twanging string, vie to drop; apes, clutching trees, wail in sorrow. None fail to cry out in grief overlooking precipitous valleys, or shriek in anguish facing the lofty woods. Then arrows are not loosed in vain, and bows are not drawn for naught: piercing the armpit and penetrating the chest, severing the head and smashing the brain. Or again, dangling a fishing line over muddy shallows, or scattering bait into clear deep pools, learning to angle for carp at the river crossing, or joining to shoot minnows in wellspring valleys: once the vermilion scales are caught, they have no further power to wait for a promise; when the pale form is suspended, the auspicious omen of leaping into the boat is forever ended. Minced fine, the flesh and body scatter like rain over the cutting board and platter. Or again, when the Xianyun flare up intensely, punitive campaigns should properly be launched; when border frontiers rebel against commands, reliance is placed on divine martial might. Although worthy and good sovereigns still employ weapons of war, and wise monarchs and enlightened rulers must still launch expeditions—so the campaign at Shen'er won great renown, and the army at Muye was praised for sublime virtue—among them, some command a million men and stride across the land, or lead five thousand deep into enemy territory. Cao Cao was shattered at Red Cliff; Xiang Yu was struck down at the Wu River; Wang Mang's head was suspended from a high terrace; Dong Zhuo's corpse was laid out in the marketplace. All were heroes exhibiting martial might for a time, yet instances of this kind cannot be fully recorded: bones piled up into mountains, and blood flowed deep enough to float pestles. Now the royal army moves like thunder to sweep away and exterminate treacherous rebels, raising weapons and holding tally-banners, watching frontiers and spying on borders. Already participating in the vanguard or presuming to hold the elite rear guard, beneath the cloud-banners how could one dare feel secure? Amidst the frosty blades, truly there is much peril! Thus under the knife they knock their heads, and beneath the spear they beg for life. Offenses such as these cannot be fully recounted. Whenever sentient beings harm one another, becoming enemies and developing feuds, incurring debts of life and bodily injury, they create causes for short lifespans, which then bring about the fruition of many diseases. We vow that from this day forward, this continuity will be severed forever, and unto the end of the future, we will become companions of bodhi and mutually equal comrades in the city of the Dharma that does not destroy good causes.