法華玄論 8.179

8.179

次論佛道近遠義釋高原求水譬。論曰：此雖一句經文，但尋味之者喜生抑揚涅槃，以四重五逆謗法闡提皆一類而科之。《波若》云「不諦讀誦受持故成魔事」，今具述異聞，詳其得失，敢希生善，庶望免咎。有人言：初教如高原乾土，《大品》如濕土，《法華》譬泥，佛果如水。有人言：《維摩》、《思益》如乾土，《無量義經》如濕土，《法華》如泥土，佛果如水。有人言：《大品》如乾土，《無量義經》如濕土，《法華》如泥，佛果如水。此三皆執五時說者也。生公云：「渴乏求水者，受持《法華》求悟佛道欲得之，如至渴乏須水也。於彼高原穿鑿求之者，一乘於三乘為難得，故於《法華》求解，如求高原水也。受持讀誦為穿鑿，未能如聞而解猶為未聞，如見乾土；若能解者方乃為聞，如遂至泥，知去水不遠也。」注經云「生死渴乏須寂滅之水也。高原水者，一乘理妙。求理於《法華》，如求水也。猶見乾土者，受持書寫，以穿鑿之初為未聞未解，去道尚遠，如見乾土也。次讀誦以譬施功不已，聞已解故，曰見濕土與泥。」注經猶採生公意，但小加修飾耳。

Next is discussing the meaning of near and far on the Buddha path to explain the parable of digging for water on a high plateau. The Treatise says: Although this is only a single phrase of sūtra text, those who investigate its flavor often bring up and suppress nirvāṇa, categorizing the four grave offenses, the five heinous sins, slandering the Dharma, and icchantikas as all of one class. The Prajñāpāramitā states: 'Not carefully reading, reciting, receiving, and upholding results in the deeds of Māra.' Now I fully set forth divergent views and examine their merits and demerits, daring to hope to foster goodness and hoping to avoid fault. Someone said: 'The initial teaching is like the dry earth on the high plateau; the Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā-sūtra is like moist earth; the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra is like mud; and the Buddha fruit is like water.' Someone said: 'The Vimalakīrtinirdeśa and Viśeṣacintibrahmaparipṛcchā are like dry earth; the Anantanirdeśa-sūtra is like moist earth; the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra is like muddy earth; and the Buddha fruit is like water.' Someone said: 'The Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā-sūtra is like dry earth; the Anantanirdeśa-sūtra is like moist earth; the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra is like mud; and the Buddha fruit is like water.' These three are all those who adhere to the theory of the five periods. Master Daosheng said: 'As for one who is thirsty and seeks water, one who receives and upholds the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra seeks awakening to the Buddha path and wishes to attain it, just as one who is extremely thirsty needs water. Digging and seeking it on that high plateau: the one vehicle is difficult to obtain compared to the three vehicles, so seeking understanding in the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra is like seeking water on a high plateau. Receiving, upholding, reading, and reciting are digging; being unable to understand according to what was heard is still not yet having heard, like seeing dry earth; if one is able to understand, only then is it hearing, like reaching mud and knowing that one is not far from water.' The Annotated Sūtra says: 'Thirst in saṃsāra needs the water of quiescence. Water on a high plateau means the wondrous principle of the one vehicle. Seeking the principle in the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra is like seeking water. Still seeing dry earth means receiving, upholding, and copying; considering the beginning of digging as not yet hearing and not yet understanding, being still far from the path, is like seeing dry earth. Next, reading and reciting are parables for exerting continuous effort; having heard and understood, it says seeing moist earth and mud.' The Annotated Sūtra still adopts Master Daosheng's idea, only slightly embellishing it.