晚明僧俗之間書信的頻繁往來，似乎受到當時尺牘風氣盛行的影響。透過書信，在家居士可以將內心的諸多苦惱，向自己所信賴的僧侶釋放而出。難以啟齒的心事、家務與官場糾葛之事，亦得以於書簡中進行討論。這是在高度信賴的關係下所建構的僧俗溝通管道。其間可以看到晚明士人因塵世之累，導致無法專心致力於佛道的憂心、困頓之情。此時，佛教「入世即出世」的致用理念，發揮它勸慰的功能，讓猶豫、徘徊於出世入世之間而感到迷惘的士人，能夠安適在俗世勞務之中亦能成就道業的這條既融通又協調的學佛之路。如此適情適性，任士人優游其間，為其憂苦找到出口，應是晚明文人氣習下所端造出的在家學佛之道。也因此，晚明士人不易斷然捨俗剃髮，多半以居士身護持佛法，推動佛教的發展。

In the late Ming Dynasty, correspondence exchange between Buddhist monks and believers had become very popular. Some believers elaborated and shared their distress, family affairs or the problems encountered in the offices with certain reliable monks. This kind of communication channel was based on a highly trustful relationship. From these letters, we can find out that some believers were not only extensively hampered by daily personal affairs, but also wondering between the realistic and Buddhist worlds or even enjoying within. It partially explains why there were so many believers in the late Ming who did not devote themselves to Buddhist practices as monks, but took an active role in the development of Buddhism, while still maintained their lay status.