仁王般若經疏 3.66

3.66

"The Great Muni..." onwards is the second [part], the Buddha's answer. There are three [points]: First, he directly answers the question; second, from "The Buddha told Candraprabha: 'After my parinirvāṇa...'" onwards, he encourages upholding; third, from "At that time the great assembly and the asura kings..." onwards, he explains the benefit attained by the assembly present. In the preceding direct answer there are three [points]: First, a brief answer; second, from "Good sons! That Dharma master..." onwards, a detailed answer; third, from "Good sons! So it is, so it is..." onwards, he summarizes the functions of the thirteen Dharma masters. In the preceding brief answer there are two [points]: First, the Buddha answers by encouraging the cultivation of contemplation gateways and briefly praising their virtues. In the text it mentions the "thirteen contemplation gateways": the three stages of worthies and ten stages of sages make thirteen; the first four patiences each have three grades making twelve, and the lower patience of extinction makes the thirteenth. From "from the patience of practice..." onwards is the second, distinguishing the stages. The "patience of practice" is the practice-gotra. "Up to the vajra pinnacle" is the tenth bhūmi. By indicating the beginning and citing the end, the eleven in between are briefly listed. "To be relied upon and established" explains that these thirteen kinds together should be relied upon. From "You..." onwards is the third, exhorting the great assembly to make offerings according to the Dharma. In the text, saying "should make offerings as to the Buddha" teaches them to make offerings with profound reverence. Thus the 'Chapter on the Two Truths' says: 'If one in a single thought believes in prajñā, know that this person is precisely a Tathāgata.' How much more so should the thirteen Dharma masters not receive offerings just like the Buddha?