Before becoming a monk, I was once at a friend’s house talking about becoming a monk, and another guest – a practitioner – told me, “It doesn’t matter whether to become a monk or not. What matters is learning from a true master.” I didn’t agree at that time. Then I heard another practitioner say, “If you want to study Buddhism, you must read the ancient classics, instead of those written in modern times, because modern people have too much assumption and opinions.” Back then I didn’t agree either.
Now in retrospect, I realize that they have both made some good points. Not that it applies to all cases, but it tells the truth to a certain extent. The same holds for the Pure Land teachings too. That’s why I note it down here.
by Grand Master Lian Chi (蓮池大師), the Eighth Patriarch of Pure Land Buddhism
古今著述 – 錄自明末蓮池大師《竹窗隨筆》(初筆)
予在家時，於友人錢啟東家，一道者因予語及出家，出家先予，渠云:「不在出家，祇貴得明師耳。」予時未以為然。又一道者云:「玄門文字，須看上古聖賢所作，近代者多出臆見，不足信。」予時亦未以為然。今思二言皆有深意; 雖未必盡然，而未必不然也。以例吾宗，亦復如是。因識之。
Buddha Mind 