Before becoming a monk, I was once at my friend Qian Qidong’s house discussing about becoming a monk, and another guest, who had already entered the monastic life, remarked to me: “It is not the act of becoming a monk that matters. What matters is finding a true master.” At the time, I was not entirely convinced. Then I heard another practitioner say, “If you want to study Buddhism, you must read the ancient classics; modern writings often stem from mere subjective conjecture and are not to be trusted.” I was skeptical of it as well.
Now in retrospect, I realize that both statements hold profound meaning. Though they are not absolute truths that apply to all cases, they are neither without validity. The same principle applies to the Pure Land teachings. 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 