仁王護國般若波羅蜜多經疏 3.405

3.405

The commentary explains: 'Due to their original vows' refers to this bodhisattva's original superior vows. That is to say, on this ground, one enters the ocean of signlessness and body and mind are quiescent; if not for the superior vows, one would never arise. 'Empowered by the buddhas' means that only through the empowerment, protection, and embrace of the buddhas can one arise with a mind directed toward the unsurpassed. As both the thirty-eighth fascicle of the Avataṃsaka Sūtra and the tenth fascicle of the Daśabhūmika-śāstra explain, the buddhas of the ten directions all appear before them, confer upon them the Tathāgata's cognition, and offer seven admonitions. Now, explaining the seven admonitions according to the Avataṃsaka: First is the admonition that one should advance toward the virtues of the fruit. The sūtra says: 'Well done, well done! Good son, this kṣānti is supreme, conforming to the Dharmas of all buddhas. Yet, good son, the ten powers, fearlessnesses, and eighteen unshared dharmas of all buddhas that we possess have not yet been attained by you. In order to achieve these dharmas, you should make diligent exertion and not abandon them.' This is an admonition to advance and seek within this door of kṣānti. Second is the admonition to have pity for sentient beings. The sūtra says: 'Furthermore, good son, although you have attained this quiescent liberation, ordinary beings have not yet been able to realize it; various afflictions all appear before them, and various coarse and subtle thoughts constantly harm them. You should have pity for such sentient beings.' This is an admonition urging them to transform [sentient beings]. Third is the admonition causing them to recall their original vows. The sūtra says: 'Furthermore, good son, you should recall your original vows to universally bring vast benefit to all sentient beings, causing them all to enter the door of inconceivable wisdom.' This is an admonition to fulfill their original vows. Fourth is the admonition reproaching equality with the two vehicles. The sūtra says: 'Furthermore, good son, whether buddhas appear in the world or do not appear, this nature of all dharmas remains eternally abiding and unchanging. Buddhas are not called Tathāgatas merely because they have attained this dharma; all of the two vehicles are also able to attain this non-discriminative dharma.' This is an admonition to cultivate both [wisdom and compassion]. Fifth is the admonition pointing to the facts and bidding them to achieve them. The sūtra says: 'Furthermore, good son, observe that our physical marks are measureless, wisdom is measureless, realms are measureless, skillful means are measureless, radiances are measureless, and pure voices are also measureless. You now ought to achieve these dharmas.' This is an admonition to cultivate and achieve them. Sixth is the admonition not to give rise to contentment. The sūtra says: 'Furthermore, good son, you have only now attained this one illumination of the Dharma, namely, the non-arising and non-discrimination of all dharmas. Good son, the Tathāgata's illumination of the Dharma has measureless entrances, measureless workings, and measureless turnings, such that it cannot be known even in hundreds of thousands of koṭis of nayutas of kalpas. You should practice and achieve these dharmas.' This is an admonition to cultivate comprehensively. The Daśabhūmika-śāstra explains: 'Measureless entrances refers to the distinctions among Dharma gates. Measureless turnings refers to continuous distinctions on increasingly higher stages; that is, cultivation continues uninterrupted from the preceding two [grounds] through the subsequent grounds up to the ultimate position.' Seventh is the admonition that one should thoroughly penetrate everything. The sūtra says: 'Furthermore, good son, observe the various distinctions among the measureless realms, measureless sentient beings, and measureless dharmas of the ten directions; you should truly penetrate these matters.' This is an admonition to know comprehensively. Having spoken the seven admonitions, that sūtra concludes: 'If the buddhas did not open the door of giving rise to cognition for this bodhisattva, at that time they would immediately enter ultimate nirvāṇa, abandoning all work of benefiting sentient beings.' This is precisely the meaning of empowerment here. From here, the second part explains giving rise to transforming and benefiting.