仁王護國般若經疏 3.4

3.4

Question: The king asked only about the causes and conditions for protecting the state; why did the Buddha first explain to him the causes and effects of protecting the Buddha? Answer: Human sentiments are coarse and shallow, whereas the wondrous principle is difficult to comprehend. Although the king, out of coarse sentiment, asked only for the one, the Buddha bestowed both the coarse and the wondrous. Furthermore, if he had only explained how to protect the state, the peace and happiness of the land would increase arrogance; now the Buddha speaks of supramundane causes and effects to cause him to weary of the mundane and delight in entering the real. Moreover, to request little is the etiquette of a disciple, while to bestow much is the standard for a master. Also, requesting little signifies non-greed, while bestowing much signifies non-stinginess. Furthermore, requesting little and bestowing much signifies the intention of compassionate guidance, and so forth. From "Listen attentively, listen attentively" onwards, third, is the exhortation to generate the three wisdoms: listening attentively causes the wisdom derived from hearing to arise; reflecting well on it causes the wisdom derived from reflection to arise; and practicing in accordance with the Dharma causes the wisdom derived from cultivation to arise, and so forth. From "Then King Prasenajit" onwards, fourth, is rejoicing and making offerings. The king saying "Excellent!" is an expression of faithful compliance. It was for this great matter of causes and conditions that [the Buddha] appeared in the world, explicitly causing sentient beings to open, reveal, awaken to, and enter into the Buddha's knowledge and vision. The Lotus Sūtra takes the Buddha's knowledge and vision as the great matter; the Nirvāṇa Sūtra takes the buddha-nature as the great matter; the Vimalakīrti and Viśeṣacintibrahma-paripṛcchā take the inconceivable as the great matter; the Avataṃsaka Sūtra takes the dharmadhātu as the great matter. Now this Prajñā takes the causes and effects of attaining buddhahood as the great matter: although the names differ, their meaning is one. Therefore the Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom states: "When the Buddha expounds prajñā, incalculable sentient beings shall carry on the lineage of the buddhas"—this is the great matter. Again, the Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā states: "Subhūti said to the Buddha: 'World-Honoured One, prajñā arises for the sake of a great matter.'" Nāgārjuna explained: "Being able to destroy all great afflictions of sentient beings and being able to confer the supreme, great Dharma of all buddhas is called the great matter." Scattering flowers signifies practicing the causes; forming a canopy signifies attaining the fruit; covering the assembly signifies compassionately delivering beings and shading and nurturing all creatures, and so forth.