釋摩訶衍論 4.9

4.9

The treatise says: Definitively without remainder, it is therefore called 'non-.' Pervasively penetrating and clearly manifest, it is therefore called 'bright.' This refers to the sun of complete prajñā pervading the dharmadhātu, such that not a single dharma is not bright. Therefore one should know that in such avidyā [non-bright], the words are general but the intended meaning is distinct. In the *Guangming shizhi jing* (Sūtra on the Real Wisdom of Light), it is spoken thus: At that time, Śāriputra addressed the Buddha, saying: "World-Honoured One! For what cause and condition do you proclaim in the great assembly: 'In all the sūtras I now speak, each and every word, each and every phrase, completely subsumes all immeasurable meanings, but for the sake of dull-rooted sentient beings, I discuss them with various verbal explanations'? If it is as the World-Honoured One says, there must be a fault. Why is this? The words 'non-bright' [avidyā] only express the dark category, and cannot express the light of prajñā wisdom. And so forth up to: the word 'impermanence' only expresses the characteristic of arising and ceasing, and cannot explain the unconditioned, constantly abiding, real principle. How can the World-Honoured One speak thus?" Thereupon the World-Honoured One told Śāriputra: "What I now speak is truly without fault. Why is this? As for the word 'non-bright', one cannot say it only expresses the dark category. Because the power of your wisdom is narrow and inferior, of small seeing and small hearing, you produce such a doubt. Yet this word 'non-bright' completely subsumes all the light of prajñā wisdom, thoroughly complete without omission. That is to say: by the meaning of definitive, by the meaning of pervasive, by the meaning of complete, by the meaning of equality, and by the meaning of without remainder, it is spoken of as 'non-'. By the meaning of penetrating, by the meaning of clearly manifest, by the meaning of contemplating, by the meaning of present, and by the meaning of unobstructed, it is spoken of as 'bright'." And so forth, up to the detailed explanation. As for dark avidyā, what are its characteristics in terms of the differences in literal meaning? The verse says: