金光明經文句 5.23

5.23

上諸天或住善權方便道，為眾生法父；此天住善實智度道，為眾生法母，一義也。譬如陰陽覆載草木，智度養育出生眾善，二義也。餘度各有所主，未亡未泯；實智照了，無相無名，三義也。餘度有等有上，智度無等無上，是究竟度，四義也。智度法門常無改變，義曰堅牢，常也。能荷，樂也。能生，淨也，名之為地。德力自在，我也，稱之為神。從此等法門，故名〈堅牢地神品〉。此品是天王護法第四意，翻涌地味，資益請說聽等地也。文為三：一從「白佛」下，誓涌地味利益行者。二從「爾時佛告」下，如來述成。三從「爾時地神」下，發誓弘經。初涌地味，文為三：從初「白佛」下，明己身利益，凡約八事展轉增長。由聞法故，法味增長。法味增長故，氣力增長。氣力增長故，翻地味增長。地味增長故，諸物增長。諸物增長故，眾生五果增長。五果增長故，修行增長。修行增長故，供養增長。供養增長故，弘通增長。悉如文。從「何以故世尊」下，明眷屬利益。是經力增長，凡約五事展轉增長。以經力故，我眷屬增長。眷屬增長故，地味增長。地味增長，故諸物增長。諸物增長故，眾生快樂增長。快樂增長故，依報皆具足，具足亦名增長。從「世尊是諸眾生」下，名報恩增長，凡約六事展轉增長。以知我恩故，專聽增長。專聽增長故，功德增長。功德增長故，教他增長。教他增長故，地味增長。地味增長故，受樂增長。受樂增長故，信施增長。悉如文。

The various deities above either dwell in the path of skillful means, serving as the Dharma-fathers of sentient beings, while this deity dwells in the path of the perfection of true and actual wisdom (prajñāpāramitā), serving as the Dharma-mother of sentient beings—this is the first meaning. Just as the yin and yang cover and support grasses and trees, the perfection of wisdom nurtures and gives birth to all good qualities—this is the second meaning. The other perfections each have their specific domains and have not yet vanished or been extinguished, whereas true wisdom illuminates and understands, being devoid of characteristics and devoid of names—this is the third meaning. The other perfections have equals and have superiors, but the perfection of wisdom is unequaled and unsurpassed, being the ultimate perfection—this is the fourth meaning. The Dharma-gate of the perfection of wisdom is eternally free from alteration; by meaning it is called 'firm and solid' (dṛḍha), which signifies permanence. Being able to bear [all things] signifies bliss. Being able to give birth [to all things] signifies purity; hence she is named 'Earth'. Her power of virtue is sovereign; this signifies the self; hence she is designated 'Spirit'. Proceeding from these Dharma-gates, this is called the 'Chapter on the Earth Spirit Dṛḍhā'. This chapter constitutes the fourth intention of the heavenly kings' protection of the Dharma: welling up the essence of the earth to provide for and benefit those who request [the teaching], those who preach, those who listen, and the ground itself. The text has three parts: first, from 'addressed the Buddha' onward, she vows to well up the essence of the earth to benefit practitioners; second, from 'At that time the Buddha told...' onward, the Tathāgata confirms and approves; third, from 'At that time the Earth Spirit...' onward, she vows to propagate the sūtra. The first part, on welling up the essence of the earth, has three sections: from the initial 'addressed the Buddha' onward, she clarifies the benefit to her own body, which generally concerns eight matters that sequentially increase: because of hearing the Dharma, the flavor of the Dharma increases; because the flavor of the Dharma increases, her physical energy increases; because her physical energy increases, the essence of the surging earth increases; because the essence of the earth increases, all things increase; because all things increase, sentient beings' five fruits increase; because the five fruits increase, cultivation increases; because cultivation increases, offerings increase; because offerings increase, propagation increases; all is as in the text. From 'Why is this, World-Honoured One?' onward, she clarifies the benefit to her retinue. The power of this sūtra increases; it generally concerns five matters that sequentially increase: due to the power of the sūtra, my retinue increases; because the retinue increases, the essence of the earth increases; because the essence of the earth increases, all things increase; because all things increase, sentient beings' happiness increases; because happiness increases, circumstantial retributions are fully complete—full completion is also called increase. From 'World-Honoured One, these sentient beings...' onward, this is called the increase from repaying kindness, which generally concerns six matters that sequentially increase: because they know my kindness, their focused listening increases; because focused listening increases, merit increases; because merit increases, teaching others increases; because teaching others increases, the essence of the earth increases; because the essence of the earth increases, their reception of bliss increases; because their reception of bliss increases, gifts given in faith increase; all is as in the text.