仁王般若經疏 1.94

1.94

From "At that time the great king again arose, paid homage" downward is the second major section within the chapter, Moonlight inquiring about the meaning of protecting the fruit. Therein are three questions and answers, which make three distinctions: The first question and answer clarifies that the two emptinesses of persons and dharmas are fundamentally tranquil and extinguished, non-dual with the Buddha-fruit. The second asks: Since sentient beings are unfindable, how can they be transformed? Answer: Causes and conditions are themselves tranquil, how much more so sentient beings! The third asks about the emptiness of wisdom: If wisdom is existent, its illumination and function can be differentiated; since wisdom is empty and tranquil, how can its illumination be differentiated? Answer: Dharmas are themselves empty in substance, how much more so wisdom! Within the first question and answer, there is first the question and then the answer. Within the question are two clauses: first, Moonlight's request; second, from "all bodhisattvas" downward, setting forth the matter requested. Within the first request, "the great king again arose, paid homage": since Moonlight was the host inquiring into the profound, when about to raise a question, he first expressed devout reverence. Within the second, the matter requested: the first clause requests [an explanation of] protecting the Buddha-fruit, and the latter clause requests [an explanation of] protecting the practice of the ten stages.