淨名玄論 1.2

1.2

金陵沙門釋吉藏，陪從大尉公晉王至長安懸芙蓉曲水日嚴精舍，養器乖方，仍抱脚疾，恐旋南尚遠而朝露非奢，每省慰喻之言：遊心調伏之旨，但藏青裳之歲，頂戴斯經，白首之年翫味彌篤，願使經胎不失、歷劫逾明。因撰所聞，著茲玄論。昔僧叡、僧肇悟發天真，道融、道生神機秀拔，並加妙思，具析幽微，而意極清玄、辭窮麗藻。但斯經文約義富、意遠義深，略闡未彰、廣敷似現，故博採南北、捃拾古今，復撿經論，微加檀思，實有過半之功，庶免徒勞之弊。

Śramaṇa Shi Jizang of Jinling accompanied the Grand Commandant, the Prince of Jin, to Chang'an, residing at the Riyan Monastery by the lotus winding waters. Lacking the proper regimen for nourishing my constitution, I contracted a leg ailment; fearing that my return to the south was still far off while [the time of life as brief as] morning dew is not lavish, I constantly reflected upon words of consolation and gave my mind over to the purport of self-mastery. Since the years of my youthful robes, I have borne this sūtra upon my crown, and in the years of my white head, I have savoured it ever more deeply, wishing that the matrix of this sūtra may not be lost, but shine brighter across the kalpas. I have therefore compiled what I have heard and composed this treatise on the profound meaning. Formerly, Sengrui and Sengzhao had an awakening arising from innate natural genius, and Daorong and Daosheng had spiritual capacities of outstanding preeminence; they all applied subtle reflection and fully analysed what is obscure and minute, yet their intentions reached the utmost clear profundity and their diction exhausted splendid embellishment. However, this sūtra has concise phrasing and rich meaning; its intent is far-reaching and its sense is profound. A brief exposition does not make it apparent, while an extensive elaboration makes it seem manifest. Therefore, broadly gathering from north and south, gleaning from past and present, further checking sūtras and treatises, and slightly applying deep reflection, there is indeed more than half the achievement gained, in the hope of avoiding the fault of wasted labour.