金光明經文句 2.14

2.14

From "Then the four Buddhas, through correct and universal knowledge" onward is the sixth [section], the prologue on checking the doubt. The text has two parts: first, directly checking the doubt; second, explaining the checking of the doubt. Because the cover of doubt shrouded his mind, hearing the Dharma he would not understand, so they first checked it. This is like the vision of the truths, where one must first sever doubts before progressing in cultivating the path. If Ruciraketu truly had doubt, it was fitting to repress and check it; if he was initiating the teaching, they used him to instruct people. From "You now should not" onward directly checks the doubt. Why "should not"? There are three kinds of "should not": 1. the great function "should not": eighty years is the Buddha's great function, hence one should not [doubt it]; 2. the ocean of dharmatā is profound, beyond the measure of speech and thought; 3. by faith one can enter, and by wisdom one can cross over: you have not yet perfected faith and wisdom, so how could it be conceived through calculation? The Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa says: "One who wishes to measure the immeasurable dharma is drowned and submerged." Hence they checked it with "should not." From "For what reason?" onward explains the meaning of the three kinds of "should not." Mentioning that none among the eight classes of beings can measure it explains why dharmatā "should not" [be measured]. Dharma-body bodhisattvas reside in the pure land of dharmatā, so they need not be mentioned. Bodhisattvas of the physical body, if lay, are subsumed under devas, nāgas, etc.; if monastic, they are subsumed under the fourfold assembly; if bodies of dharmatā display provisional manifestations, they are also subsumed under the eight classes. Whether ordinary or saintly, none can fathom or calculate it. "Except only the Tathāgata" explains why the crossing over of wisdom "should not" [be measured]. If one were like the Tathāgata, then one could know it; since one is not yet like the Tathāgata, how could one suddenly know it? In the past, this phrase was taken to mean that which is known by wisdom is known to be an impermanent, measurable dharma. Master Tiantai says: It is not so. The Tathāgata possesses immeasurable eternal wisdom that can know immeasurable eternal dharmas; how could that which is known by eternal wisdom be judged as impermanent? Since the nature of wisdom is imperceptible and profound, its great function can be understood. This explains the three kinds of "should not."