[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [仁王經疏](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1708) › 2.168 # 仁王經疏 2.168 仁王經疏 2.168 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [2.168](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1708.2.168) 問：此種性菩薩，為如此經必不退耶？或有退耶？設爾何失？若言退者，此經所說如何會釋？若言不退，《本業經》等如何會釋？解云：此義兩釋不同。一龍猛菩薩宗，種性菩薩決定不退。故《金剛仙論》第一卷中作如此說。然此習種性人亦有二種：一者性決定、二者不定。不定者，未能決定入於性地，乃至初地容有進退，故言不定。若遇善知識即不退，若不遇者退入外凡及二乘地，或性種性猶退墮地獄。馬鳴菩薩《起信論》中亦同此說。又《樂莊嚴經》中說：性地菩薩決定不退。是故《寶鬘論》中有人問龍樹菩薩云：「《地持經》中道性地菩薩退墮阿毘地獄。此義云何？」龍樹菩薩答言：「《地持經》中雖云性地菩薩墮地獄，我不明作如是說。何以故？《不增不減經》中明性地菩薩畢竟不墮地獄。又《樂莊嚴經》中說：性地菩薩若一時殺閻浮提眾生，雖有此罪，猶不墮地獄。若殺四天下乃至大千世界眾生，亦不墮地獄。何以故？此人曠劫修行、多供諸佛，功德智慧善根純熟。雖造重罪，以福德力故，罪即消滅，不墮地獄。如熱鐵𨫼，以一渧水投之於上即自消滅。以此驗知，性地菩薩不墮地獄。」 > Question: For a bodhisattva of this gotra, is it necessarily non-regressing as in this sūtra? Or is there regression? If so, what is the flaw? If one says there is regression, how does one reconcile the statement in this sūtra? If one says there is no regression, how does one reconcile the \*Benye jing\* and others? Explanation: There are two different interpretations of this meaning. The first is the tradition of Bodhisattva Nāgārjuna, \[holding that\] a bodhisattva of the gotra is definitely non-regressing. Thus the first fascicle of the \*Vajrarṣi-śāstra\* speaks like this. However, persons of this practice gotra also have two kinds: first, of determinate nature; second, indeterminate. The indeterminate ones are not yet able to definitively enter the gotra stage, and up to the first bhūmi they may advance or regress; hence they are called indeterminate. If they meet a good spiritual friend, they do not regress; if they do not meet one, they regress into the stages of external worldlings and the two vehicles, or those of the nature gotra may even regress and fall into hell. Bodhisattva Aśvaghoṣa in the \*Treatise on the Awakening of Faith\* also shares this explanation. Furthermore, the \*Sukhālaṃkāra Sūtra\* states: a bodhisattva of the gotra stage definitely does not regress. Therefore, in the \*Ratnāvalī\*, someone asks Bodhisattva Nāgārjuna: 'In the \*Bodhisattvabhūmi-sūtra\*, it says that a bodhisattva of the gotra stage regresses and falls into Avīci Hell. What does this mean?' Bodhisattva Nāgārjuna replied: 'Although the \*Bodhisattvabhūmi-sūtra\* says that a bodhisattva of the gotra stage falls into hell, I do not explicitly make such a statement. Why? Because the \*Anūnatvāpūrṇatva-nirdeśa Sūtra\* explains that a bodhisattva of the gotra stage ultimately does not fall into hell. Furthermore, the \*Sukhālaṃkāra Sūtra\* states: if a bodhisattva of the gotra stage were to kill all sentient beings in Jambudvīpa at one time, although having this sin, they would still not fall into hell. If they were to kill sentient beings of the four continents or even a trichiliocosm, they would likewise not fall into hell. Why? This person has practiced for vast kalpas and made many offerings to all Buddhas; their merit, wisdom, and wholesome roots are pure and ripe. Even though they commit severe sins, due to the power of merit, the sins are extinguished immediately, and they do not fall into hell. Just like a red-hot iron plate: if a single drop of water is poured upon it, it is immediately extinguished on its own. Verifying by this, one knows that a bodhisattva of the gotra stage does not fall into hell.' > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 2.167](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1708.2.167) - [Next: 2.169](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1708.2.169) - [Up: 2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1708.2) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1708~en-mt.2.168) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1708.2.168](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1708.2.168) · Pramāṇa