向軍民長官呼籲和平
——十五年佛誕日自杭州發——
各省軍民長官鑒：人身數十年耳，及身權利，即偕亡滅，獨有靈心浩浩，雖覓之無方，索之無體，而前溯之無始也，後探之無終也。乘一身一身所造善惡之業流轉諸趣，不知其曾為幾度之天帝、人王、畜生、餓鬼，更不知其將為幾度之將相、神仙、獄囚、流丐也。吾儕憑一期人身所造善業，可食天帝、人王、將相、神仙百千萬身之福果；所造惡業，可招畜生、餓鬼、獄囚、流丐百千萬身之罪報。幸聞佛法而信解修證，則可盡登聖地，遠階佛位，永超隨業流轉之苦，常住稱心自在之樂，故曰人身難得，佛法難聞。若為爭數十年與身偕亡之權利，廣造殺生、盜財、邪婬、妄語惡業，無論舛道而馳，所貪者未必遂心，即使以夙善故暫得倖致，而坐此失卻由人身可獲之無限福果，竟受畜生、餓鬼、獄囚、流丐等生生世世靡窮惡報，苟非大愚不靈，亦寧甘為此？十數年華夏內爭，兵匪交虐，淫殺焚掠，村邑為墟，益以天災，死亡枕藉。幸存者，農輟于野，工輟于肆，老弱轉于溝壑，壯強流為兵匪，將見生計罄窮，稅源枯竭，國民軍政終同崩潰。乃猶復欺詐相尚，侵奪靡止，縱不為祖國族民親友子孫計卹，顧善惡業果年來之報應亦彰彰矣！而一念不可磨滅之真我，因此坐失生天成佛之良機，將久受地獄、餓鬼、畜生等無量惡果，能不悲從中來，愴然涕下乎！或謂軍政當局亦為國民，徒以主張歧異，致相摟伐，豈盡為爭私人權利哉！應之曰：其假愛國救民之語，行爭權奪利之實者，此無論也。即令問心靡他，而以不學無術之故，致全國靡爛，民不聊生，亦應慚愧悔過，止殺行慈，庶可回補于萬一，豈能藉為文飾，以之自恕！故真心為國民者，睹此民生國計之慘苦，其必惻然愍傷，惟息事寧人是務，以圖生養教育。若忍心害理，更事爭殺，則決非真為國民之士也。何則？比年內鬨，相殘者皆為手足，而背後又各有他族為牽率，不關夷夏之大防，殆無是非之可判為國民戰，于義何取？惟有辭讓修德，自求多福，可保身家，可安國民。或謂民國之立，不可無統一政府以行使其主權，否則內無以治，外無以交，故當局者南征北討，要惟為此耳。應之曰：國際相交，雖須有一代表國家之名位，但為民設國，重在使人民有以安生樂業。前以藉一部軍權政見，強求立一統一政府之故，連年苦戰，民極憔悴，而結果愈爭愈裂，置身其上者，無不敗亡相繼，莫堪自全；今之有力能爭此者，若以前車為鑑，則何若暫捐此圖，猶可固其疆圉，保其權實，休養生息，以紓民困。有能行仁施義，天下歸心，或推誠互見，猜虞胥泯，則統一聯合之治，自然成就。在今則各軍區各推一代表于北京，組一中華民國對外代表團，以為代表國家之名位可也。嗟乎！吾人有無限無盡之真生命，即從當念拳拳之止惡行善，可日臻上理，發達至于全能大覺，無求不獲，而旁流所呈，則身家之富貴壽考也，國民之繁榮優秀也，人世之和平安樂也，物界之熾昌華美也，皆所出之緒餘耳。一心眾心，體同德融，臨民者能心民心以增上其德，則光被四表，格于上下，亦何難之有耶？願諸公照察及之！
To all provincial and military leaders:
A human life lasts only a few decades—the rights and privileges we hold in this lifetime vanish with our deaths. Yet there is a boundless spiritual consciousness, vast and infinite, that cannot be found by seeking nor grasped by searching. It stretches back to no beginning and extends forward to no end. Riding on the karmic currents created by each life's deeds, it drifts through countless realms of existence—none of us knows how many times we have been celestial emperors, human kings, animals, or hungry ghosts, nor how many future lifetimes we may spend as generals, ministers, immortals, prisoners, or beggars.
In this single human lifetime, the good karma we create can yield blessings enough for hundreds of thousands of lives as celestial emperors, kings, generals, ministers, or immortals. Likewise, the evil karma we create can bring suffering for hundreds of thousands of lives as animals, hungry ghosts, prisoners, or beggars. But if we are fortunate enough to encounter the Buddha's teachings, and with faith and understanding cultivate realization, we can ascend to sacred ground, draw near to Buddhahood, and forever transcend the suffering of karmic wandering, abiding in a state of perfect freedom and joy. Thus it is said: a human life is precious, and the Buddha's teachings are rare to encounter.
If instead we fight over rights that will die with our bodies in a few decades, committing acts of killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, and lying, we are like those who gallop off in the wrong direction—what we greedily pursue may never come to hand. Even if through past good fortune we briefly attain what we seek, we lose thereby the infinite blessings available to us in this human form, and instead reap endless evil retribution as animals, hungry ghosts, prisoners, or beggars, life after life without cease. Unless one is utterly senseless and blind, who would willingly choose such a fate?
For over a decade, China has been torn by internal strife—soldiers and bandits have alike inflicted cruelty, rape, arson, and plunder, reducing villages to ruins. Add to this natural disasters, and the dead lie piled upon one another. Survivors find farmers unable to tend their fields, workers unable to ply their trades—the old and weak perish by the roadside, the strong and able drift into armies or banditry. Livelihoods are exhausted, tax revenues dry up, and the very foundations of national governance and military order threaten to collapse entirely.
Yet still people deceive one another, seizing and plundering without end. Even if you care nothing for your homeland, your people, your kin, or your descendants, consider that the karmic fruits of recent years' deeds are already plainly visible! And your true self—that indestructible spark of consciousness within you—is being robbed of the precious opportunity to ascend to heaven or attain Buddhahood, instead condemned to endless suffering in hells, as hungry ghosts, or as animals. Can your heart not ache? Can tears not flow?
Some may say: "Those in military and political authority are also citizens of the nation. It is merely differences of opinion that lead them to take up arms—surely this is not simply about personal power!" To this, I reply: Those who cloak the reality of power-grabbing in the language of patriotism and saving the people are beyond our present discussion. But even for those whose hearts are truly sincere, if through lack of learning and wisdom they have plunged the entire nation into chaos and driven the people to the edge of survival, they too should feel shame, repent, cease killing, and practice compassion, seeking to redeem at least a fraction of the harm done—not use good intentions as a cover for self-forgiveness!
Thus, those who genuinely care for their people, seeing the terrible suffering of the nation and its citizens, must surely be moved to compassion. Their sole aim should be to quiet conflicts and restore peace, so that the people may live, grow, and be educated. But to harden one's heart against all reason and continue fighting and killing—that is certainly not the way of one who truly serves the people.
Why? In recent years of internal conflict, those who slaughter one another are all brothers. Behind them, moreover, stand various foreign powers pulling strings—it is not a matter of defending Chinese civilization against barbarian invasion, nor can clear right and wrong even be distinguished. For a "national" cause to wage such war—what justice can it claim? The only honorable path is humility and virtue, cultivating goodness and seeking blessings—this is what protects one's own life and family, and secures the well-being of the nation and its people.
Some may say: "A republic requires a unified government to exercise its sovereignty; without one, we cannot govern within nor engage with the world without, and so the authorities march north and campaign south—this is their sole reason." To this, I reply: Though international relations require a representative authority for the nation, a government exists for its people—the essential point being that the people may live in security and pursue their livelihoods. Previously, factions have sought to impose a unified government by military force, and year after year of bitter war has left the people utterly exhausted. The result has been ever greater division, and those who sought to stand at the summit have fallen one after another, none able to preserve themselves. If today's contenders for power would but learn from the example of those before them, why not temporarily abandon this ambition? They could still secure their territories, maintain their actual power, and give the people respite to recover and rebuild. If some should practice benevolence and righteousness and win the people's hearts, or if all parties could show mutual sincerity and dispel suspicion, then unification and joint governance would naturally come to pass.
In the present moment, it would be acceptable for each military region to send one representative to Beijing, forming a delegation to represent the Republic of China abroad—a nominal representative body sufficient for international matters.
Alas! We possess an infinite and eternal true life. From this very moment, if we earnestly resolve to cease wrongdoing and practice good, we may daily improve, advancing toward omnipotence and perfect enlightenment, attaining all that we seek. And as a secondary outflow, we would see: wealth, honor, and longevity for individuals; prosperity and excellence for the nation; peace and happiness for all society; and richness and beauty throughout the natural world—these are but incidental byproducts!
One mind and all minds are one in essence, united in virtue. If those who govern the people could but feel the people's hearts as their own and elevate their virtue accordingly, their light would radiate to all corners of the earth, reaching above and below alike. What difficulty would remain unovercome?
I pray that all of you will give this your deepest consideration.
釋太虛等。自杭州叩
（見海刊七卷四期）
（附註）原題「丙寅年佛誕紀念之佛教同人通電」，東方文化作「通電各省軍民長官文」，今改題。