涅槃玄義發源機要 4.10

4.10

Second, from "Imitating the crowd" downward, directly clarifies the time and place of composition, in two parts: first, a modest expression of his feelings. Fascicle thirty of the sutra says: "For example, the king told a minister: 'Lead an elephant to show to the blind.' Then the blind crowd each touched it with their hands. The one who touched the tusk said an elephant was like a radish root; the one who touched the ear said an elephant was like a winnowing basket, and so forth. The sutra itself draws the analogy: the king symbolizes the Tathāgata; the minister symbolizes the Vaipulya Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra; the elephant symbolizes the Buddha-nature; and the blind symbolize all ignorant sentient beings." Speaking of a sword only in a dream is as in fascicle eighteen of the sutra, briefly mentioned above. The sword symbolizes the Buddha-nature; talking erratically in a dream is not having personally obtained the sword. These are all the commentary author's modesty. That is, reflecting in mind upon the sutra's purport is like the blind touching the elephant—how could one know the whole body? Speaking the sutra's text aloud is like discussing a sword in a dream, hence it is not real possession. Second, from "In Daye" downward, concerns the time and place of writing, in two parts: first, clarifying the time and place, which itself has two parts: first, indicating the time and place of setting pen to paper. Daye is the reign era of Emperor Yang of the Sui. The tenth year was the jiaxu year. "Dwelling in a hut south of Tiantai": the Xiao Erya says, "Lu (a hut) means to lodge temporarily." It means a temporary lodging, or a detached lodge. The Yellow Emperor made huts to avoid cold and heat, leaving them in spring and autumn, and dwelling in them in winter and summer; hence it means lodging temporarily. Shenyong's Tiantai Zaji says: "Chicheng is the south gate, and Shicheng is the west gate." Now saying "south of Tiantai" refers to Chicheng. Second, from "Viewing through a tube" downward, clarifies composing [the work] based upon the master. "Viewing Zhizhe's meaning and intention through a tube": the Zhuangzi says, "viewing the sky through a tube." This means that Zhizhe's dharma-gate is as high and distant as the sky, while one's own understanding and investigation are like viewing it through a tube. "Meaning and intention" refers to the meaning of the five periods and four teachings, and the intention of the three contemplations and six identities. Relying on this meaning and intention, he ventured to interpret the purports for this sutra. Wei is in the falling tone. The preface to the Shangshu states: "Receiving the edict, he made commentaries for the fifty-nine chapters." "Daye" clarifies the time of compilation. "South of Tiantai" reveals the place of writing and editing. "Viewing Zhizhe through a tube" shows the lineage of what was learned.