淨名玄論 1.2

1.2

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.