仁王般若經疏 1.12

1.12

Next, entering the text of the sūtra. In truth, when the Buddhas expounded sūtras there were originally no sections and paragraphs; it began with Dharma Master Dao'an, who divided sūtras into three sections: first, the introductory exposition; second, the main exposition; third, the transmission exposition. The introductory exposition means the rationale and prelude, the rationale and prelude for expounding the sūtra. The main exposition means impartiality, the fundamental purport of the unified teaching. The transmission exposition means: "transmitting" (liu) signifies broadcasting afar, and "circulating" (tong) signifies unobstructed; it means wishing to cause the sound of the Dharma to spread far and wide without blockage. The reason there are three expositions is: wishing to make clear that when a superior person delivers a teaching there must be causes and conditions, he first makes clear the introductory exposition, and once the gradual unfolding is manifested, the main sūtra ought to be distinguished, hence there is again the main exposition; the great compassion of the Sage is boundless and sentient beings receiving transformation are limitless, so not only does it benefit the present time, he furthermore wishes to transmit it far into future generations, hence there is the third, the transmission. However, these three are not three; thus the three are just a single-three. The introduction is itself the main, and so on up to the transmission being the introduction, just as the three jewels are one-three and three-one. As for the textual locations: this sūtra has eight chapters and is divided into three sections: first, the "Introductory Chapter" is the introductory section; second, the six chapters from the "Chapter on Contemplating Emptiness" downward are the main exposition section; third, taking the single chapter of "Entrustment" as the transmission section. If determined according to the text, from "the Buddha told Candradeva" at the end of the "Chapter on Receiving and Upholding" downward, that is the entrustment. But the previous chapter clarifies the entrustment in terms of preventing the arising of the seven calamities, while the subsequent chapter clarifies the entrustment in terms of distinguishing the scope of the sūtra; therefore it is said that the "Chapter on Entrustment" is named the transmission.