No. 294-C楞嚴經述旨題辭
楞嚴述旨。述覺皇之旨，重宣其義而說之也。既有說矣，復重宣之，得無贅乎？曰：覺皇邈矣，其說吾不得而聞。當其祗園結集之時，記於阿難，則阿難之楞嚴也。譯之天竺，則般剌密諦之楞嚴也。再譯之烏萇，則彌伽釋迦之楞嚴也。傳之震旦，筆受於平章房公，則平章房公之楞嚴也。皆述也。番梵之語詰以曲，震旦之文明以簡。今其言則如尚書所謂王若曰云爾已矣，若曰亦述也。述則何俟於重宣？曰：將以自便也。說是經者眾矣，類以己見離經而說之，辭愈煩而意愈晦。夫客浮於主，則傅不勝咻，況郢書而燕說之乎？經者，徑也。循其文而徑人之得旨，斯已。不佞甞謂釋經之法，如携兒入市，十步一顧，猶恐失之。若荒度海覧，兒去遠矣。且夫多言晦道，多聞溺心，以十證一，不如罕譬之喻也。子曰：予欲無言，辭達而已矣。易則易知，簡則易了，易簡而天下之理得矣。覺皇之意，詎不然哉。大禹之行水也，行所無事而已矣。梓人之樹木也，亦然。故剪其煩則枝幹條達，疏其壅則脉絡川流。又不觀庖丁之解牛乎，尋其肯綮則游刃自利。吾宣楞嚴之義而重說之，用以自便。而海內達尊及以同志，謂當公之人人，以請印正，勉就剞劂。或謂某章句腐儒，素無前識，妄倚門牆，窺我室家之好，不亦淺乎。夫夫也，是大我慢。彼自以知識為善耶，不知吾無所知識之不為不善也。若乃騁雄辯，競機鋒，多其訊言，適滋語病，師心自用，轉益無明。安則為之，不復與語。
Elucidating the Shurangama Sutra: An Elucidation of the Enlightened One's Intent, Restating Its Meaning and Expounding It.
Since the meaning has already been stated, restating it—isn't that redundant?
One might say: The Enlightened One is distant; His teachings we cannot hear personally. When the Sutra was compiled at the Jeta Grove, it was recorded by Ananda—thus, it is Ananda's Shurangama. Translated in India, it became Paramiti's Shurangama. Re-translated in Uddiyana, it became Megha-shika's Shurangama. Transmitted to China, with the brush receipt by Minister Fang, it became Minister Fang's Shurangama. All these are elucidations. The languages of India are intricate and winding; the language of China is bright and concise. The present text resembles the ancient style of "The King says thus" from the Book of Documents—that "thus" itself is an elucidation.
If so, why require a restatement?
Because it serves my own convenience. Many have explained this Sutra, but they often deviate from the Sutra's own words, interpreting according to their personal views. The more words they add, the more obscure the meaning becomes. When a guest overshadows the host, the transmitted text cannot overcome the noise; even less so when the meaning of Ying is mistaken for the lore of Yan?
"The Sutra" means "the path." Following its text to penetrate directly into its essence—that is enough. I once said that the method of explaining the Sutra is like taking a child to a busy market: one must pause every ten steps to look back, afraid of losing them. To rush through and gaze broadly would let the child go far away. Moreover, excessive speech obscures the Way; excessive hearing drowns the mind. Using ten examples to prove one point is not as good as a single apt analogy.
The Master said: "I wish to speak no more... Words that convey meaning are enough." Simplicity makes it easy to know; brevity makes it easy to understand. When it is simple and brief, the principle of the world is attained. Could the Enlightened One's intent be otherwise?
When Yu the Great channeled the waters, he simply did what needed to be done, nothing more. The carpenter who plants trees does the same. Hence, trimming the excess makes branches and trunks spread smoothly; clearing the blockages makes veins and arteries flow like rivers.
Or consider Cook Ding cutting up an ox: By finding the natural gaps, his blade glides with ease.
Thus, I elucidate the meaning of the Shurangama and restate it for my own convenience. Respected elders across the land, along with like-minded friends, suggest that I make it available to all—to seek correction and guidance—and so I reluctantly proceed to engrave it on blocks.
Some may say: "This is a mere pedant, a scholar of trivial chapters and sentences, with no prior insight. He presumptuously leans on the doorframe and peeks into the inner chambers of our good teaching—how shallow!"
Such a person is greatly arrogant. They think that knowledge is good, unaware that my lack of knowledge is not a lack of skill. As for those who display eloquence, compete in sharp wit, and multiply their inquiries—they only breed verbal faults. Following their own minds and turning ever more to ignorance: Let them be at peace with it; I will speak no more with them.
萬曆二十九年歲次辛丑夏五月八十二翁淮海陸西星庚書於潞河舟中No. 294
Written by the eighty-two-year-old Lu Xixing of Huaihai, on the eighth day of the fifth month in the summer of the twenty-ninth year of the Wanli reign (the year Xinchou). At the boat on Luhe River.
楞嚴經說約品目
淮海參佛弟子蘊空居士陸西星長庚述
廣陵後學黃養正貞吉校
Huang Yangzheng Zhenji of Guangling, Proofread