弘明集卷第一(并序)
Collection on the Propagation and Clarification of Buddhism, Volume 1(with Preface)
梁楊都建初寺釋僧祐撰
Compiled by Shi Sengyou, Jianchu Temple, Yangdu, Liang Dynasty
夫覺海無涯。慧境圓照。化妙域中。實陶鑄於堯舜。理擅繫表。乃埏埴乎周孔矣。然道大信難。聲高和寡。須彌峻而藍風起。寶藏積而怨賊生。昔如來在世化震大千。猶有四魔稸忿六師懷毒。況乎像季其可勝哉。自大法東漸。歲幾五百。緣各信否。運亦崇替。正見者敷讚。邪惑者謗訕。至於守文曲儒。則拒為異教。巧言左道。則引為同法。拒有拔本之迷。引有朱紫之亂。遂令詭論稍繁訛辭孔熾。夫鶡旦鳴夜。不翻白日之光。精衛銜石。無損滄海之勢。然以闇亂明。以小罔大。雖莫動毫髮。而有塵眡聽。將令弱植之徒隨偽辯而長迷。倒置之倫逐邪說而永溺。此幽塗所以易墜。淨境所以難陟者也。祐以末學。志深弘護靜言浮俗憤慨于心。遂以藥疾微間山棲餘暇。撰古今之明篇。總道俗之雅論。其有刻意剪邪建言衛法。製無大小莫不畢採。又前代勝士書記文述。有益亦皆編錄。類聚區分。列為一十四卷。夫道以人弘。教以文明。弘道明教。故謂之弘明集。兼率淺懷附論于末。庶以涓埃微裨瀛岱。但學孤識寡。愧在褊局。博練君子。惠增廣焉。
The ocean of enlightenment is boundless, and the realm of wisdom shines fully and clearly. Transforming the world from within, its power truly refines even rulers like Yao and Shun; its principles transcend forms and symbols, shaping even sages like Zhou and Confucius. Yet the Way, being vast, is hard to believe; its voice is lofty, and few respond. When Mount Sumeru rises high, fierce winds arise; when treasures amass, envious thieves appear. In the past, when the Tathagata lived in the world, his teachings shook the great cosmos, yet there were still the four demons harboring anger and the six heretics nursing malice. How much more so in this degenerate age—can it be endured?
Since the Great Dharma spread eastward, nearly five hundred years have passed. People’s karmic conditions lead them to believe or not; the fortunes of the teachings rise and fall. Those with right views praise and propagate; those with wrong views slander and defame. As for narrow-minded Confucian scholars clinging to literal texts, they reject Buddhism as a foreign teaching; while those with clever words and deviant paths co-opt it as their own. Rejection confuses the true roots; adoption mixes up red with purple (truth with falsehood). Thus, fallacious arguments gradually multiply, and erroneous rhetoric flourishes.
The owl may hoot at night, but it cannot dim the light of day; the jingwei bird may carry pebbles, but it cannot diminish the sea’s vast power. Yet when darkness confuses light, or small things deceive the great—even if they cannot move a single hair—they still disturb our seeing and hearing. This leads the vulnerable to follow false arguments and sink ever deeper into delusion; it causes the inverted to pursue evil doctrines and drown forever. This is why the path to darkness is so easy to fall into, and the pure realm so hard to reach.
I, Zhiyou, though a late learner, am deeply committed to spreading and protecting the Dharma. Reflecting on the superficial ways of the world, I have felt deeply pained. During a brief respite from illness, in the spare time of mountain seclusion, I compiled the wise writings of past and present and gathered the refined discussions of both clergy and laity. Any work deliberately cutting away falsehoods or advancing arguments for protecting the Dharma—whether long or short—I have collected in full. I have also included relevant records and writings of worthy figures from earlier generations. These are organized by category into fourteen chapters.
The Way spreads through people; the teachings shine through writings. Spreading the Way and clarifying the teachings—this is why this collection is called *Hongming Ji* (A Collection for Spreading Light). I have also appended my own humble reflections at the end, hoping they may contribute, like a drop of water or a speck of dust, to the vast ocean and towering mountain. But my learning is shallow, my knowledge scant, and I am ashamed of my limited perspective. May wise and learned gentlemen kindly expand and improve this work.