金剛般若波羅蜜經略疏 1.49

1.49

Regarding the second passage, there are four sentences: 1. "Why is this?", which examines the reason for freedom from marks. 2. The reply establishing the meaning of freedom from marks. What is termed freedom from marks has eight levels: first, the notion of a self; second, the notion of a sentient being; third, the notion of a person; fourth, the notion of a life-span. These four have two meanings: if understood in terms of the primary afflictions, they are the śrāvaka's obstacles, wherein the two obstacles both pervade self and what belongs to self; if understood in terms of residual habituations, they are the bodhisattva's obstacles. If one comes to the text below there are also similarities and differences, which should be gauged accordingly. The fifth is the mark of a dharma; sixth, the mark of no-dharma; seventh, having marks; eighth, having no marks. These four are all bodhisattva obstacles. What does this mean? When the understanding mind first arises, seeing that there is the mark of a dharma as a standard rule, it must discriminate the false; to be free from this mark, it is therefore said that they "have no mark of a dharma." Learners fail to understand and immediately consider no-dharma to be the standard rule. The treatise says, "This is reproved as empty talk; it is in order to be free from this error." In that evil age, because bodhisattvas are endowed with precepts and wisdom, their ability to give rise to faithful mind is called not empty talk; hence the text says "nor do they have the mark of no-dharma." Learners fail to understand, thinking that apart from the marks of existence and nonexistence of dharmas that are seen, there is separately a pāramitā that is the true mark; to be free from this false conception, it is therefore said that they have "no marks." Learners fail to understand, immediately thinking that outside the marks of existence and nonexistence there is no true mark; to be free from this view, the text therefore says "nor do they have no-marks." 3. From "Why is this, Subhūti?" onward, reiterating the examination of the reason for being free from the eight marks. 4. From "these bodhisattvas..." onward, answering the reason why they must be free.