大般涅槃經集解 7.56

7.56

Note: One edition has 'pearl'. Sengliang states: The intent of the scripture is not one-sided, and its principle is complete and precious; this is compared to a jewel, also called a pearl. Taking it one-sidedly diverges from the middle, which is compared to losing it. Fayao states: The intent of the words is the pearl; failing to comprehend what is expressed is the loss. Sengzong states: The external metaphor is that because of play they lost the pearl; the internal correspondence is that because their understanding was not yet deep, their feelings rushed after the five desires, losing their original understanding, which is like losing the pearl. If one speaks of the loss: in the past, conceiving permanence diverged from understanding, which already entailed loss; but calling it a loss only now upon hearing the teaching of impermanence is because the past designation of permanence equally had the sense of loss, yet did not reveal the teaching of impermanence. Once the understanding of impermanence arose, it obstructed the view of permanence, and the sense of loss first became evident. Baoliang states: As for the understanding of the middle path, failing to attain what ought to be attained is termed 'loss'.