No. 1578-B刻指月錄發願偈(有述)
Engraving Finger Pointing at the Moon: Vow Verses(Preface)
釋典雖有宗教兩塗。世尊云。吾四十九年住世。未曾說一字。則何教之非宗乎。顧宗門須憑實悟。毫不容偽。觀古之尊宿。幾十年點胸自許。直至末後。為明眼人煅煉過。方始開省。則悟豈易言哉。及其悟後。奉戒愈精。檢過愈密。甚至向折脚鐺下。入山磨煉。真悟人氣象如此。豈非識法者懼乎。今之望見門頭戶口者。便謂已證已得。從而呵佛罵祖。放蕩無檢。聲色貨利。居然常人。而高談闊論。明欺一世。噫欺世乎自欺乎。有日鬚眉墮落。嘔血無及在。何得歸罪於宗。偈曰。
Although the Buddhist scriptures have both doctrinal and meditative paths, the World-Honored One said, "For forty-nine years I dwelt in the world, and never spoke a single word." So how can any teaching be separate from that direct realization? However, the meditative path relies on genuine awakening—there is no room for pretense. Look at the masters of old: they might have felt confident in their understanding for decades, only to be refined by a clear-eyed teacher at the very end, finally opening to true insight. If that's the case, can awakening be spoken of lightly? After their awakening, they upheld the precepts even more strictly, examined their faults even more carefully, and some even went into the mountains to temper themselves with nothing but a broken-legged stove. Such was the demeanor of a truly awakened person—is this not the fear of one who truly understands the Dharma?
Today, however, people catch a glimpse of the gate and immediately claim to have realized and attained. They then proceed to mock the Buddhas and slander the patriarchs, indulging in unrestrained behavior. Lost in sensual pleasures and material gain, they are no different from ordinary people, yet they speak in lofty terms and deceive an entire generation. Alas! Are they deceiving others, or deceiving themselves? One day, when their hair falls and their teeth drop, they will vomit blood in vain regret. Why blame the meditative path for this?
The verse says:
世皆懺罪造福 我亦作福滅罪
惟有流傳法寶 續佛慧命為最
願我生生世世 不迷正路修行
直取菩提上果 徧度法界眾生
還願眾生覺悟 修行不迷正路
聊憑標月指頭 正見雲開月露
逍遙性海之中 當體與佛全同
逐一銷除夙習 次第到岸登峰
慎勿撥無因果 莽莽蕩蕩招禍
殺盜婬妄不除 豈得泥犂免墮
還有向上一言 頭上便是青天
秋月梧桐滴露 春風楊柳含烟
All over the world, people pray for forgiveness and do good deeds, I too create merit and extinguish my faults.
But none of this compares to spreading the sacred Dharma, Continuing the Buddha’s wisdom and life.
I vow that in life after life, I will never stray from the true path of practice, And aim directly for the highest fruition of Enlightenment, Liberating countless beings throughout the universe.
I also wish that all beings may awaken, And practice without losing the true path. I only use the finger pointing at the moon, So you may see clearly when the clouds part and the moon shines.
Drift freely in the ocean of suchness, Your true self is completely one with the Buddha. Eliminate old habits one by one, And reach the summit step by step.
Be careful not to deny cause and effect, For reckless actions bring disaster. If you don’t give up killing, stealing, lust, and lying, How can you avoid falling into hell?
And there is one final teaching: Above your head is the clear blue sky. Autumn moonlight drips from the parasol tree, Spring breezes fill the willow with mist.
萬曆辛丑歲八月初三日 吳郡嚴澂和南書。
On the third day of the eighth month of the Xinchou year in the Wanli era, Yan Cheng of Wu Commandery wrote this with reverence.