金光明經玄義 1.13

1.13

What is meant by "three"? What is meant by "nirvāṇa"? Purity of nature, round purity, and purity of skillful means are the three. Non-arising and non-ceasing is called nirvāṇa. The real mark of all dharmas can neither be defiled nor purified; non-defilement is non-arising, non-purification is non-ceasing, and non-arising and non-ceasing is called the nirvāṇa of purity of nature. Cultivating the cause and according with the principle, delusion fundamentally never arises, and wisdom fundamentally never ceases; non-arising and non-ceasing is called the nirvāṇa of round purity. Being quiescent yet ever luminous, when responding to an aptitude it is born, yet this birth is not birth; when conditions end it ceases, yet this cessation is not cessation; non-arising and non-ceasing is called the nirvāṇa of purity of skillful means. One should know that regarding these three kinds of nirvāṇa, non-arising and non-ceasing is itself permanence; being permanent, it is called bliss; being bliss, it is called self; being self, it is called purity. Since nirvāṇa is itself permanence, bliss, self, and purity, it is the three virtues; because it can be honoured and revered, it is the three jewels, neither dual nor distinct. Since the Suvarṇaprabhāsa is used as a metaphor for the three virtues and the three jewels, the Suvarṇaprabhāsa is also used as a metaphor for the three kinds of nirvāṇa.