示優婆塞易真潭
Guidance for Layman Yi Zhentan
佛性善根如艸種在地，但有土處莫不有之，若遇時雨靡不發生，第雨有早晚故生有遲速耳！凡人人皆有善根種子，若遇大善知識而開導之如時雨降，則勃然生芽、抽條長幹、開花結實鮮不成就。所謂：「有情來下種，因地果還生。」未有無因而招果者。此從上佛祖教化門頭，貴在觀根逗機，善為開導，使其自性成熟耳！非有別法以誇誕眾生也。
善士易真潭生在邊地，長於塵勞，若夫汩汩口體不暇，安有留心出世切念生死事大乎？自非夙種善根深厚，油然于中而不容己者，何乃遇緣即發，不待教自能者若是耶？余初貶雷陽，未度嶺時，談者只謂「邊俗好鬼而噉血食」，絕無善人。且據佛言「邊地下賤篾戾車種」，以為大難。以其斷絕佛種，破滅善根，不聞三寶名字故為惡類，余因為實然。及過電白時，見潭攜善士數輩頭面作禮，余甚異之。及過苦藤嶺，誅茆茨施茶結緣，蓋潭創為佛事集眾信而為之者，此則不因開導而自為之，豈非善根純熟，時節因緣已至，有不能自止，觸事而現、遇緣而成者耶？
Good man Yi Zhentan was born in a border region and grew up amid worldly toil. If one is constantly preoccupied with bodily needs, how could one find time to consider the great matter of birth and death and seek liberation? Unless one has deep virtuous roots planted from past lives, arising naturally from within and impossible to suppress, how could one—upon encountering the right conditions—awaken spontaneously, without needing instruction, and act so naturally?
When I was first exiled to Leiyang, before I had even crossed the mountain ridges, people only said that the border folk "worshipped ghosts and consumed blood offerings," and that there were absolutely no virtuous people there. According to the Buddha's words, those born in borderlands or among the lowly "Mleccha" tribes were considered extremely difficult cases—cut off from the seeds of Buddhahood, their virtuous roots destroyed, never having heard the names of the Three Jewels. They were regarded as an evil class, and I took this to be true.
But when I passed through Dianbai, I saw Zhentan leading several good companions in prostrating themselves before me, and I was deeply surprised. Later, when crossing the Kuteng Ridge, he had built a thatched hut to offer tea and create ties of connection with others—this was a Buddhist undertaking that Zhentan himself had initiated, gathering believers to accomplish it. This was not done because someone had guided him, but through his own initiative. Could this not be a sign that his virtuous roots had fully ripened, that the time and conditions had arrived, and that he could not hold himself back—manifesting in every encounter and accomplished through every opportunity?
由是觀之，佛性未必盡善，魔性未必盡惡，隨其所習故有異耳！佛說邊地惡種，蓋言其重者，欲人生正信、生中國、聞正法故也。余因見潭之純誠篤信，一時善士良友，若某輩誠敬之，由此而推，足見佛法不難行於邊地陋習之境也。余因創化城庵，捨茶結緣以種善根，乃作《疏》，命潭與二三善士同心一力，果期年而功成，三年而化行，即今海外路人皆知有佛事，將轉魔界而成佛界，未必不從此一人一事而倡始也。如一陰以至堅冰，一陽而炎赫日，造化之機如此，道化之機亦然，將來轉穢邦而成樂國固不難矣！佛言：「無佛法處建立三寶，非菩薩人不能克成。」梵語菩薩，此云大心眾生。潭也可稱大心眾生，若從此增進，信心不退，善根轉深，苟能勇猛精進，頓悟本心，即永斷生死迥脫沉淪，一超直入菩提彼岸，未必不從今日出門一步為初地也。但辦肯心，必不相賺。勉之勉之！
From this perspective, Buddha-nature is not necessarily all good, and demon-nature is not necessarily all evil—they differ based on what one practices and cultivates. When the Buddha spoke of remote lands with evil inheritances, He was referring to the more severe cases, to inspire people to develop right faith, be born in central regions, and hear the true Dharma. I have seen Tan's sincerity and devout faith, and how earnest good friends and virtuous companions in this time respectfully honor him. From this, it is clear that the Dharma can indeed be practiced even in remote lands with crude customs. I therefore established Huacheng Monastery, offering tea to create connections and plant roots of goodness. I wrote this proposal, asking Tan and a few virtuous friends to work together with one mind. Indeed, within a year the work was accomplished, and within three years the influence spread. Now even people across the seas know of Buddhist activities—transforming the realm of demons into the realm of Buddha may well begin with this one person and this one deed. Just as one shade of yin leads to solid ice, and one ray of yang leads to blazing sun, the workings of nature follow this pattern, and so does the transformative power of the Way. Transforming a defiled land into a joyful realm is certainly not difficult! The Buddha said: "Establishing the Three Jewels in places without the Dharma cannot be accomplished except by Bodhisattvas." In Sanskrit, "Bodhisattva" means "a being of great resolve." Tan may well be called a being of great resolve. If he continues to advance from here, with unwavering faith and deepening roots of goodness, and if he can be courageous and diligent, suddenly awakening to his true nature, he will forever end birth and death, completely escape the cycle of suffering, and leap directly to the far shore of enlightenment. This may well begin with the very first step he takes from this door today. As long as one sets one's mind to it with determination, one will not be deceived. Strive on! Strive on!