妙法蓮華經玄義 5.10

5.10

When the practitioner's perfect faith is newly born, it must be properly nurtured. If one engages in worldly affairs and is disturbed, the sprout of the path will be ruined. One should only cultivate the contemplation of principle internally, and externally receive, uphold, read, and recite the Mahāyāna scriptures, for hearing [the teachings] has the power to assist contemplation. Relying mutually on the internal and external, the perfect faith becomes ever brighter, and the ten minds become firm. The *Vajracchedikā-prajñāpāramitā* says: 'To give away bodies as numerous as the sands of the Ganges three times a day does not equal the merit of receiving and upholding a single verse.' The contemplative wisdom of the first grade is like the eye; the reading and reciting of the second grade is like the sun. Because the sun has light, the eye sees various forms. The *Treatise* says: 'Regarding the real, it is called the revealing cause; regarding the rest, it is called the producing cause. Merit does not lead to bodhi; both together can lead to bodhi.' Hearing possesses immense benefit; the meaning lies here. This is called the stage of the second grade.