金剛經纂要刊定記 5.121

5.121

"Alarm and fear": these three mental activities differ. "Alarm" (jing) means being startled and bewildered; "terror" (bu) means flustered wavering between advancing and retreating; "fear" (wei) means sheer dread. It is like someone wishing to go to the capital and traveling on a main highway: having never experienced it before, they are suddenly alarmed, thinking to themselves: "Why have I come here?" Either advancing or retreating, doubting right and doubting wrong, they ultimately have no resolute mind, thinking this road was never correct from the start; or they turn back and do not advance, or in terrifying madness they fall into a gorge or cast themselves over a cliff, failing to complete their natural lifespan. It is also like this in the Dharma: because the Buddha taught emptiness and taught existence in the teachings for humans, devas, and the Small Vehicle, those who do not grasp the intention cling to the words. When this sūtra is spoken, it reveals the principle of the Middle Way that is neither empty nor existent; those who clung to earlier teachings are all alarmed and afraid, regarding it as wrong instead and unable to advance, either falling among ordinary people or sinking into the Small Vehicle, permanently losing the true emptiness of bodhi. The present intent of the sūtra is: if someone hears this difficult-to-believe Dharma of neither existence nor emptiness and does not give rise to an alarmed and fearful mind, they can avoid abandoning bodhi and advance toward the Great Way. Its purport is profound and wondrous, and few are such persons; if there are any, they are rare indeed.