大般涅槃經疏 7.12

7.12

Fourth, in setting forth the simile, first is the simile, next the application of the simile. "Like a prince" seems to illustrate [the stage] prior to the path. The king illustrates the bodhisattva; the son illustrates the multitudes of sentient beings; committing an offense illustrates giving rise to evil causes; being bound in prison illustrates experiencing evil fruits. Feeling pity illustrates the natural familial bond; cherishing affection illustrates pulling out evil causes; personally going to the place of imprisonment illustrates pulling out evil fruits. Now, as for a prince, he is of the kṣatriya clan, yet through an offense becomes a prisoner; sentient beings are also like this: identical with the nature of the Buddha, yet bound by evil karma they wander in birth and death; they both have buddhadhātu and lack buddhadhātu, just as the prince is a prisoner and the prisoner is a prince. For this reason, with friendliness and compassion he grants [joy] and pulls out [suffering]. From "The bodhisattva is also like this" onward is the application of the simile. In total, three teachings are adduced to apply the simile: First, the stage of the single child matches identical-substance great compassion, illustrating essence as function. Next, the four immeasurables pull out the cause of suffering and grant the cause of goodness, and pull out the fruit of suffering and grant the fruit of joy; great joy is rejoicing, and great equanimity is impartiality, illustrating that function is not separate from essence, directly function as essence. Third, the four universal vows are comprehensively applied to the four noble truths: the truth of suffering is pervasive and not merely the four lower destinies; the truth of origination is also pervasive and not merely the ten evil acts; the truth of the path is not merely the moral goodness [of precepts]; the truth of cessation is not merely ash-like annihilation. Since the scope of the universal vows encompasses everything completely, these three teachings are used to apply the simile to illustrate karma. Fifth, adducing the two retributions to conclude: the sage takes wisdom as life, and because wisdom is sovereign, his lifespan is long, which illustrates the fruit retribution. Experiencing bliss in heaven illustrates the flower retribution (and so on).