Why can't we collect Buddhist scriptures?
Master Yin Guang not only advocated respecting the translation of the original text, but also worried about two major problems brought by Buddhist scriptures, namely "the end of correcting the scriptures by mistake" and "giving the Buddha a handle". Is this alarmist? Facts have proved that as long as it is a gathering, it is impossible to avoid "false changes" to Buddhist scriptures. No one can apply for the patent of "gathering", and who can only allow some people to gather and forbid others to gather? There are many people who are arrogant and self-righteous, and there are also many people who want to make a name for themselves in this history. Rightly or wrongly, hell is not hell. In this case, Master Yin Guang is worried about changing the scriptures and giving the Buddha a handle. This is certainly not alarmist. In the long run, you will collect it, and he will collect it, and the Buddhist scriptures may be unrecognizable. From ancient times to the present, there are many books, but all of them have been bashed head-on by the eminent monks. For example, Wang Longshu's Collection of Great Amitabha Buddhist Scriptures was severely criticized by master lianchi, pointing out its fallacy with the original Buddhist Scriptures. This collection also circulated for a long time, but after master lianchi pointed out its mistakes, it was gradually abandoned by the public. To sum up, there are five reasons for opposing the collection of Buddhist scriptures: first, the translation of ancient Buddhist scriptures is extremely cautious. The translated classics are all confirmed by collective scrutiny, and it is impossible to "pass on Buddhist scriptures according to one's own mind". Ancient people generally needed nine procedures to translate Buddhist scriptures, and hundreds of people repeatedly and strictly proofread them. You collect Buddhist scriptures yourself. Who do you think you are, smarter than Buddha? Second, it is extremely difficult to collect Buddhist scriptures: collecting Buddhist scriptures is not an easy task. With Wang Longshu's attainments in Buddhism, it is even more difficult for others to guarantee the quality. Third, gathering people led to the disorderly change of Buddhist scriptures: gathering people to Buddhist scriptures set a precedent for future generations to change Buddhist scriptures indiscriminately. In the long run, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages and will poison future generations. 4. Goode doesn't circulate collections: Ancient Dade, such as master lianchi, didn't circulate collections, so it is impossible to circulate other collections today. If you think you are wiser than master lianchi, stand up and collect Buddhist scriptures: collecting Buddhist scriptures will give people who oppose Buddhism an excuse that "Buddhist scriptures were invented by later generations, not translated from India". Master Yin Guang's comparative analysis of the original translation of conference proceedings is from a holistic and long-term perspective. It is from these two points that Master Yin Guang opposed collecting books not for people, but for things. In other words, Master Yin Guang objected that anyone can collect Buddhist scriptures. In the long run, Buddhist scriptures will be unrecognizable.