分別功德論 2.4

2.4

The reason for specifically mentioning the names of the two persons, Jetṛ and Anāthapiṇḍada, is that these two had previously passed away and are now in the heavens, where they also gather the devas to teach and preach the Dharma. At that time they thought: "We were originally the dānapatis of the sangha; will our names never again be mentioned?" Wishing to accommodate what they thought, the names of the two persons were separately mentioned. As for stating that "one should cultivate one Dharma", this was also not spoken in sequential order. If based on the preaching of the Dharma upon first attaining awakening, it should begin with preaching the four noble truths in the Deer Park in Vārāṇasī, and next proceed to Magadha to subdue the three Kāśyapas. By taking the opportunity to mention the names of the masters of the monastery, it then says "one should cultivate one Dharma", because the flavor of the principle of this one Dharma and of the four Dharmas is not different. One Dharma also cuts off fetters, and four Dharmas also cut off fetters; both reach nirvāṇa, arriving at the same destination by different paths. In total there are twenty-one fetters, unfolded into thirty-six. Although the numbers expand or contract, all are fetters. In all matters there are one hundred and one, which expanded further become eighty-four thousand; thus one Dharma and tens of thousands are equally paths to the ultimate Way. It is like a lion killing an elephant or killing a rabbit: both are the same single death. Because their principled purport is not different, it begins with one Dharma. Non-negligence (apramāda) is the essence of this one Dharma. Someone may ask: Morality should come first; one should first uphold morality and afterwards be mindful of the Three Jewels. Or it may be said: For beginners, they first be mindful of the Three Jewels—that is, the three refuges—and directing their minds to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, sequentially receive morality. For this reason, morality should be explained fourth, after the cessation of thoughts.