大般涅槃經集解 25.22

25.22

案僧亮曰：譬重心護法，法由人弘，弘法在行，謂戒定智慧次第相生。今日慧解，藉戒定為因。因譬女也，今解譬子。昔日戒定甚淨，必生勝慧，譬垂產。遇值惡緣而犯重禁，譬國亂也。捨淨之穢，譬之他土。以本因力聞涅槃經，譬天廟也。信常樂淨，以譬生子。又聞經說護法功德能除犯重，譬聞舊邦安隱豐樂。勤加護法，譬携持其子也。欲令本戒清淨，譬還本土也。末法耶惑，執偏教者不受常說，譬水暴急不得度也。遂執常解，沒命不捨，譬命終也。雖有破戒本惡，以護法之功，起登大道，為天中也。法瑤曰：為改悔護法者設譬也。明昔善已有今解之萌，譬懷妊也。天廟者，講法之處也。聞法改悔，生護法之心，譬生一子也。

Sengliang states: This is an analogy for protecting the Dharma with a grave mind. The Dharma is propagated by people, and propagating the Dharma lies in practice; this refers to morality, concentration, and wisdom successively generating one another. Today's understanding of wisdom relies on morality and concentration as causes. The cause is compared to the woman, and present understanding is compared to the child. In the past, morality and concentration were exceedingly pure and would surely give rise to superior wisdom; this is compared to being about to give birth. Encountering evil conditions and violating grave prohibitions is compared to the country being in turmoil. Leaving purity for defilement is compared to going to another land. By the power of the original cause hearing the Nirvāṇa Sūtra is compared to the heavenly temple. Having faith in permanence, bliss, and purity is compared to giving birth to a son. Moreover, hearing the sūtra explain that the merit of protecting the Dharma can remove violations of grave offenses is compared to hearing that one's old homeland is peaceful, secure, and abundant. Diligently protecting the Dharma is compared to carrying her child. Wishing to make the original precepts pure is compared to returning to one's homeland. In the final age, heterodox delusions and those adhering to partial teachings do not accept the teaching of permanence; this is compared to the torrential river that cannot be crossed. Thereupon adhering to the understanding of permanence, not letting go even at the cost of life, is compared to dying. Although there was the original evil of breaking precepts, through the merit of protecting the Dharma, she rises to the Great Path and is born among the devas. Fayao states: This provides an analogy for those who repent and protect the Dharma. Clarifying that past goodness already possessed the sprout of present understanding is compared to being pregnant. The heavenly temple is the place where the Dharma is expounded. Hearing the Dharma, repenting, and generating the mind to protect the Dharma is compared to giving birth to a son.