仁王般若經疏 3.160

3.160

From 'At that time, when the great assembly and the asura kings' onward is the third major division in the answering of the questions, explaining that the assembly at that time heard the Dharma and attained benefit. In the text there are six parts: first, explaining generally that the great assembly heard the teaching and generated vows; second, the sixteen kings awakened to the Path; third, the eighteen Brahmā heavens and others attained benefit; fourth, nine hundred billion bodhisattvas realized the fruits; fifth, ten thousand bodhisattvas contemplated future ages and attained benefit; sixth, one billion bodhisattvas attained correct enlightenment in the present. First, the assembly at that time heard the seven calamities were terrifying, their bodily hairs stood on end, and they made vows not to be born in those lands. Second, within the attainment of benefit by the sixteen kings there are two parts: first, explaining that the sixteen kings entrusted the state to their brothers and made vows to renounce household life; second, explaining their practice of the Path. Herein are also two parts: first, two headings on practicing the Path through contemplation of provisional characteristics; next, from 'thirty patiences' onward, explaining the entry into the Path through actual practice. First, 'contemplating the characteristics of transcendent mastery of the four great elements and the four colors' refers to the eight bases of mastery (aṣṭāv abhibhv-āyatanāni). Contemplating the four great elements internally constitutes four bases of mastery: contemplating the four great elements internally while contemplating external forms as few without destroying internal and external forms is the first base of mastery; contemplating the four great elements internally while contemplating external forms as many is the second base of mastery; having no internal four great elements while contemplating external forms as few is the third base of mastery; having no internal four great elements while contemplating external forms as many is the fourth base of mastery. These involve contemplating the destruction of internal form without destroying external form. The latter four bases of mastery: blue, yellow, red, and white combine to make the eight bases of mastery. Because the contemplation of the eight bases of mastery is accomplished, it is called 'characteristics of transcendent mastery'. Next, explaining the contemplation of the ten totalities (daśa kṛtsnāyatanāni): the four great elements and four colors make eight; 'non-possession' is the station of nothingness, 'consciousness' is the station of consciousness, and 'space' is the station of space; these three combined make the ten totalities. Because the contemplation of the ten totalities is accomplished, it says 'the characteristics of meditative practices entering into [them]'.