大般涅槃經集解 1.11

1.11

Master Sengzong states: This is the overarching name for the exhaustion of encumbrances, the ultimate designation for the myriad virtues. "Great" refers, first, to the greatness of the teaching, and second, to the greatness of the principle. Why? Starting from Mṛgadāva up to the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra, cause and effect were not fully distinguished, and object and practice were not completely clarified, which is why they were small; this teaching is fully complete, which is why it is called "Great." Formerly, the nirvāṇa of the three vehicles was not truly ultimate, being small within the principle; now, clarifying that dharmakāya and prajñā reside outside of all encumbrances is great within the principle, hence it is called "Great." Nirvāṇa is the correct sound of India; here it is called vimokṣa, meaning to be liberated from myriad encumbrances. The affliction of encumbrance having ceased, its essence is replete with myriad virtues; now three are briefly cited to subsume the multitude: first, dharmakāya; second, prajñā; third, vimokṣa. Its wondrous existence is pure, and its essence contains nothing that is not Dharma, hence it is called dharma. Its wondrous essence is distinct, differing from the great void, hence it is called body (kāya). The settled spirit illuminates emptily, examining with none unpervaded, hence it is called prajñā. Its path towers beyond myriad delusions, and its essence is free from defilement and encumbrance, hence it is called vimokṣa. These three virtues are one in essence but different in meaning. Upon a single essence there are three semantic designations; yet why only vimokṣa was selected to title the sūtra has three meanings: first, to clarify that the principle lies beyond myriad delusions. Second, to censure the former vimokṣa. Why? Because formerly the Small Vehicle was afflicted by the activity of body and wisdom, and sought to eliminate this affliction, relying in feeling upon vimokṣa. Since body and wisdom were both extinguished, it was an isolated vimokṣa, hence known to be small. What is clarified today is that the essence is replete with myriad virtues, carrying dharmakāya and prajñā so as to endure permanently; therefore it is called "Great." "Sūtra" means that of all Buddhas of the three periods, none from ordinary beings to sages did not pass through (jing) this.