維摩經玄疏 4.25

4.25

Answer: The Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra explains: "The moon-loving samādhi (candra-priya-samādhi): from the first day to the fifteenth day, its light gradually increases; again, from the sixteenth day to the thirtieth day, its light gradually decreases until it is gone." "The moon's light gradually increases" illustrates the fifteen merits of wisdom, the light of mahāprajñā. "Gradually decreases until it is gone" illustrates the fifteen merits of elimination, where afflictions in liberation are decreased until gone. "Fifteen kinds of wisdom and elimination": the thirty minds make three wisdoms and eliminations, the ten grounds make ten wisdoms and eliminations, equal awakening makes one wisdom and elimination, and sublime awakening makes one wisdom and elimination, together making fifteen wisdoms and eliminations; therefore, from the first day to the fifteenth day, the moon is used as a metaphor. The "substance of the moon" illustrates the Dharma-body, and the Dharma-body is one. "The light gradually increases" illustrates the merit of wisdom of prajñā, arising without arising. "The light gradually decreases" illustrates the merit of elimination of liberation, decreasing without decreasing. Hence the Nirvāṇa Sūtra explains: "From the beginning, I settle the various children in the secret storehouse, the nirvāṇa of the three virtues. Afterwards, I also shall enter parinirvāṇa within this secret storehouse." This final ultimate nirvāṇa is called "non-arising non-arising." Prajñā is ultimately non-arising and non-ceasing, with no further delusion to be eliminated. Moreover, the Lotus Sūtra explains "opening, displaying, awakening, and entering"; Master Nanyue explained this, saying: "These are the forty minds of the perfect teaching." Furthermore, the Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra explains the forty-two syllabic doors: "The initial syllable door 'a' also fully contains the forty-two syllabic doors; the final syllable door 'kṣa' (chá) also subsumes the forty-two syllabic doors"; Master Nanyue explained: "These are different names for the forty-two grounds of the perfect teaching." The Benevolent Kings Sūtra (Renwang jing) explains: "The three sages and ten saints practice within forbearance; only the Buddha alone can exhaust the source"; this speaks of the characteristics of the stages of perfect penetration. The Yingluo jing says: "Bodhisattvas of the three stages of worthiness naturally flow into the ocean of sarvajñā (all-knowledge)"; this is its meaning. The Avataṃsaka Sūtra says: "From the initial first ground, one is already complete with all the merits of every ground." The Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa says: "The bodhisattva, from first arousing the mind, contemplates nirvāṇa and practices the path, up to sitting in the place of enlightenment (bodhimaṇḍa)." How could one recount completely all that is explained in such sūtras and treatises! The citations and explanations are fully contained in the main work on the four teachings (Si jiao da ben).