妙法蓮華經玄義 5.24

5.24

Second, citing various sūtras to clarify the number of stages: The Mahā-parinirvāṇa says, 'The moon-loving samādhi, from the first day to the fifteenth day, gradually increases in light and colour; furthermore, from the sixteenth day to the thirtieth day, it gradually decreases in light and colour.' The increase in light and colour exemplifies the fifteen virtues of wisdom, mahā-prajñā. The gradual decrease in light and colour exemplifies the fifteen virtues of severance, untrammelled liberation. The thirty minds are three instances of wisdom and severance, the ten grounds are ten instances of wisdom and severance, and virtual enlightenment and wondrous enlightenment are each one instance of wisdom and severance, totaling fifteen instances of wisdom and severance. The substance of the moon exemplifies the dharma-kāya. The Great Sūtra says: 'The nature of the moon is ever round, truly having neither increase nor decrease.' Due to Mount Sumeru, there are waning and waxing. Without increasing, it increases, as the bright moon gradually becomes conspicuous; without decreasing, it decreases, as the dark moon gradually disappears. The dharma-kāya is also like this: in reality it has neither wisdom nor severance; due to ignorance, when discussing wisdom in reference to suchness, suchness is truly not wisdom; when discussing severance in reference to suchness, suchness is truly not severed. Though without wisdom, there is wisdom, and prajñā gradually shines; though without severance, there is severance, and liberation is gradually departed from. Taking the moon as an analogy, one knows these are the stages of wisdom and severance in the perfect teaching. The Great Sūtra says, 'From the beginning, I establish the sons in the secret treasury, the three virtues of nirvāṇa, and afterwards I shall enter parinirvāṇa in this secret treasury.' This is precisely the final wisdom and severance.