大般涅槃經集解 15.99

15.99

Sengliang comments: Below this is distinguished the cause of a person of the first refuge, one who possesses the nature of defilement. The sūtra says: 'A bodhisattva on the first ground makes offerings to as many Buddhas as particles of dust.' How could it stop at eight Ganges sands to complete the ten grounds? It merely states that the merit of the first refuge is like this, not to mention the remaining three persons. In the stage of nature and the stage of understanding, there are three kinds of wisdom: namely, that of hearing, thinking, and cultivating. These are contaminated merits, each having three grades. The sands of the Hiraṇyavatī River yield the lowest of the lower wisdom of hearing, while the eighth Ganges yields the highest of the higher wisdom of cultivation, making nine grades. When contaminated wisdom is fulfilled, surpassing this one attains uncontaminated wisdom and enters the first ground. Future protectors of the Dharma must make offerings to the sands of eight Ganges Rivers before being able to proclaim it. Fearing there might be those who regress, he encourages them with this. Sengzong says: Here the causes of two categories are presented. From the Hiraṇyavatī to the two Ganges Rivers are the causes of listeners. From the third river to the eighth river are the causes of speakers.