仁王護國般若經疏 3.3

3.3

"Contemplating emptiness" means that wondrous signless wisdom illuminates the signless realm; inner and outer are both still, and object and contemplation are both empty, hence it is called the Chapter on Contemplating Emptiness. Furthermore, ordinary persons do not recognize it, heterodox paths falsely grasp it, and the two vehicles are bogged down in it; now the bodhisattva, using the correct wisdom of prajñā, contemplates emptiness as non-empty, transcending both the ordinary and the noble, hence it is called contemplating emptiness. Moreover, ordinary persons are attached to existence, the two vehicles are attached to emptiness; the bodhisattva relinquishes existence and further contemplates emptiness. Again, contemplation is that which contemplates, and emptiness is that which is contemplated; when both that which contemplates and that which is contemplated are empty, that is the true Buddha's knowledge and vision. Therefore the lower text says: "Seeing realm and seeing wisdom is not the noble seeing." The six chapters below are called the principal teaching, divided broadly into four: the preceding three chapters clarify inner protection; the one chapter of "Protecting the State" clarifies outer protection; the "Chapter on Scattering Flowers" clarifies repaying kindness through offerings; the "Chapter on Receiving and Upholding" clarifies the characteristics of propagating the sūtra. The first text is further divided into two: first, briefly introducing the two protections; next, extensively explaining them through questions and answers. The first text has four parts: first, knowing the intent of the request; second, briefly and directly introducing [them]; third, exhorting them to generate the three wisdoms; fourth, rejoicing and making offerings. Now for the first: "At that time the Buddha addressed the great assembly" refers to the capacities receptive to the teaching. "The sixteen great kings wished to inquire about the causes and conditions for protecting their states" gives rise to the subsequent sūtra text on outer protection and serves as the basis for the "Chapter on Protecting the State." From "I shall now first for you" onward is, second, directly and briefly introducing the two protections, namely cause and fruition. The causes and conditions for protecting the Buddha fruition give rise to this chapter; the causes and conditions for protecting the practices of the daśabhūmi give rise to the "Chapter on Scattering Flowers." "The practices of the daśabhūmi" refers to protecting the cause.