勝鬘寶窟 3.54

3.54

就文有三：一明信利益；二「於我滅」下，歎行功德；三「信如來有如是」下，結信利益。「若我弟子」者，汎舉能信之人也。此中凡有四信，就文為二：第一明四位為真子；二「隨順法智」者下，偏釋第三觀解相。前四為二位：初二辨信位、次兩明解位。如龍樹云：「佛法大海，信為能入，智為能度。」即其事也。初中信位有二：言「隨信」者，是十信位。隨教生信，故名隨信。又此信心，隨順種性已上增上之信，故名隨信。又隨所有事皆信，歎信廣也。如《維摩》云「所未聞，聞不疑。」「信增上者」，十解菩薩，得證法明，信根堅固，名為增上。又上歎信廣，今歎信深。如《維摩》云「深信堅固，猶若金剛」，故名增上。「依明信已隨順法智」，上來明二種信，此下明二種解，此是解行地所成益也。名前上信以為明信，依彼信已，起解行中觀解方便。此觀順於初地已上成就法智，名隨法智。第四名為究竟，今第三仰順彼法智而觀，故名隨順法智也。又順法成智，名隨順法智。「而得究竟」，謂初地已上無生忍也。然初地未究竟，但望前三種，故說為究竟耳。於解中開二者，地前為順忍、登地以為無生忍。有人言：但有三位：初二種信，為十信位；依明信已，第二在種性解行地；而得究竟，第三在初地已上。若隨行以分，於一切位中，初信、次解、後行，即為三。若以四位者，信中開二、解中開二，如上釋也。

Regarding the text, there are three parts: first, explaining the benefits of faith; second, from "After my extinction" downwards, praising the merit of practice; third, from "having faith that the Tathāgata has such..." downwards, concluding with the benefits of faith. "If my disciples" generally raises the persons capable of faith. Here there are four kinds of faith altogether, and regarding the text there are two parts: first, explaining the four stages as true children; second, from "those who comply with the dharma-wisdom" downwards, specifically explaining the characteristics of the third stage of contemplative understanding. The preceding four constitute two stages: the first two distinguish the stage of faith, and the latter two explain the stage of understanding. As Nāgārjuna said: "In the great ocean of the Buddhadharma, faith is what enables one to enter, and wisdom is what enables one to cross over." This is precisely that matter. Within the first, the stage of faith has two: Saying "those who follow faith" refers to the stage of the ten faiths. Generating faith by following the teaching, they are therefore said to "follow faith". Moreover, this mind of faith complies with the superior faith above the gotra; hence it is called "following faith". Furthermore, they have faith in accordance with whatever matters exist, praising the breadth of their faith, as the Vimalakīrti-sūtra says: "What they had not heard before, upon hearing it they have no doubts." "Those who have superior faith": Bodhisattvas of the ten understandings, who have attained realization of the clarity of the Dharma and whose faculty of faith is firm, are called "superior". In addition, the former praised the breadth of faith; this praises the depth of faith. As the Vimalakīrti-sūtra says: "Deep faith is firm, like a vajra"; hence it is called "superior". "Having relied upon clear faith, complying with the dharma-wisdom": The preceding clarified the two kinds of faith; below clarifies the two kinds of understanding. This is the benefit achieved on the stage of practice of understanding (adhimukticaryābhūmi). The aforementioned preceding faith is called "clear faith"; having relied upon that faith, they generate the upāya of contemplative understanding within the practice of understanding. This contemplation accords with the dharma-wisdom accomplished from the first bhūmi upwards; it is called "complying with the dharma-wisdom". The fourth is called "ultimate"; here the third looks up to and accords with that dharma-wisdom in contemplation, hence it is called "complying with the dharma-wisdom". Moreover, according with the Dharma to achieve wisdom is called "complying with the dharma-wisdom". "And attain the ultimate" refers to the anutpattikadharmakṣānti from the first bhūmi upwards. However, the first bhūmi is not yet ultimate, but is only spoken of as ultimate in relation to the preceding three. In opening two within understanding: before the bhūmis is anulomikī kṣānti; ascending the bhūmis is taken as anutpattikadharmakṣānti. Some say there are only three stages: the first two kinds of faith are the stage of the ten faiths; "having relied upon clear faith" is the second, located in the gotra and the stage of practice of understanding; "and attain the ultimate" is the third, located at the first bhūmi and above. If divided according to practice: within all stages, faith is first, understanding is next, and practice is last, which makes three. If taking four stages, two are opened within faith and two are opened within understanding, as explained above.