金光明經玄義 1.7

1.7

As for differentiation, “differentiation” means discrimination and analysis. Question: If one is concise, there is only one; if one is extensive, there are immeasurable [sections]. Now, as for these five chapters, going forward they are not extensive, and stepping back they do not constitute conciseness; why are there five? Answer: They are neither concise nor extensive. Because they are not concise, they are not merely one; because they are not extensive, they are not manifold. Being extensive causes one's wisdom to retreat; being concise leaves the meaning incomplete. I now speak from the middle ground, so that the present meaning may be easily understood. Within the five chapters, their relevance is like this. As for “differentiation,” it means distinguishing. The preceding one chapter takes the three characters together as a collective title; the next three chapters branch out the three characters as specific [aspects]; the final chapter combines both general and specific to clarify the doctrinal characteristics. Furthermore, the chapter revealing the substance clarifies the principle, while the remaining four chapters clarify phenomena. Furthermore, the preceding three chapters are the cause, while the latter two chapters are the fruit. Furthermore, the preceding four chapters are practice, while the latter one chapter is teaching. Furthermore, the preceding four chapters are practices for one's own benefit, while the latter one chapter is practice for the benefit of others. Furthermore, the preceding four chapters are the noble silence, while the latter one chapter is the noble expounding of the Dharma. Such are the various kinds of differentiation and discrimination. Now, to make an appropriate analogy that clearly contains richness: if there is a jewel inside a bag and one does not reach in and show it to people, no one will know of it. These are all analogies made for the sake of clarity. The jewel inside the bag is an analogy for the collective three characters; reaching in and showing it to people is an analogy for the differentiated three characters. The jewel inside the bag is an analogy for the chapter on principle; reaching in and showing it to people is an analogy for the chapters clarifying phenomena. The rest may all be understood by this analogy.