般若心經略疏連珠記 1.3

1.3

In explaining this commentary, the text has two parts: first, the title; second, [...]. The first has two: first, setting forth the title of the commentary. Now, there are two kinds of titles: placed at the head of a sūtra, it is called a sūtra title; set forth before a commentary, it is called a commentary heading. Here, it is the commentary title. "Prajñā," and so forth, is the sūtra explained; "Brief Commentary" is the commentary that explains it. Taking the title of the explained sūtra together with the portion of the explaining commentary, taking the name of another, is a bahuvrīhi compound (possessive compound). If one says "the commentary of [the Heart Sūtra]," it is a tatpuruṣa compound (dependent determinative compound). "Brief" means brief as in essential and concise; it does not mean there is separately an extensive commentary. "With Preface" means it includes an accompanying preface. Second, showing the honorable title and the translation of the scriptures: after the interlinear commentary on the sūtra carved by Master Jin of Jingkou, the ancestral master's own inscription was engraved, stating: "In the second year of the Chang'an reign-period [702 CE], in the leisure moments between translating scriptures at Qingchan Monastery in the capital, Fazang was repeatedly and earnestly requested by Lord Zheng of Xingyang, Director of the Ministry of Rites and concurrently Acting Administrator of Yongzhou, to produce a brief commentary." Since it says "in the leisure moments between translating scriptures," it does not mean he had never participated in the translation bureau. "Śramaṇa" is translated here as "one who strives to put [afflictions] to rest." The following two characters are the commentary master's esteemed name. "Composed" (shu) is a modest term meaning "to transmit without originating."