大般涅槃經集解 25.22

25.22

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.