涅槃經遊意 1.50

1.50

「滿半」圓偏語者，明涅槃本來具足，緣未巧具聞圓旨，故說「無常」一邊名為「半」字。故經問：「云何解『滿』字及與『半』字義亦得道？云何解『半』字及與『滿』字義？但今得意，明涅槃具足圓滿。」為緣說「半」，故言「滿半」也。「半滿」是積足者，「無常」是「半」，「常」足為「滿」。「常」亦爾，故定知「半滿」大師戲言耳。

"Full-half" being spoken in terms of complete and partial means: it clarifies that nirvāṇa is originally complete, but because conditions were not yet skillfully ready to hear the complete tenet, one side, "impermanence", was spoken and named the "half" letter. Therefore the sūtra asks: "How is understanding the meaning of the 'full' letter together with the 'half' letter also attaining the Way? How is understanding the meaning of the 'half' letter together with the 'full' letter? But now, grasping the intent, it clarifies that nirvāṇa is fully complete." Because for the sake of conditions it speaks of the "half", it is therefore called "full-half". That "half-full" is accumulating to sufficiency means: "impermanence" is "half", and "permanence" being added makes it "full". Permanence is also like this; therefore we definitively know that "half-full" was merely a playful remark of the Great Master.