金光明經玄義 2.3

2.3

Question: Formerly it was said that this sūtra derives its title from an analogy. Why do you make an unconventional departure and rely on the text? Answer: It is not that taking to the text now undermines the analogy. If one rigidly clings to analogy, that in turn harms the text. The meaning has two approaches, and both should be retained. Thus it was said before that inferring by principle is distant, while relying on the text is direct. If one is of dull faculties, one figures the Dharma through analogy; if one is of sharp faculties, one takes the Dharma itself as the analogy. A passage below says: 'Like resting peacefully in the profound dharmatā, precisely within this Suvarṇaprabhāsa scripture one comes to see me, Śākyamuni.' Furthermore, the 'Chapter on Emptiness' says: 'For the sake of those with dull faculties, great compassion was aroused.' A dull person guards the pointing finger or guards the tree stump—how could they know the hare and the moon? A sharp person comprehends effortlessly and has no need of stumps or fingers (and so forth).