金光明經文句 6.12

6.12

There are four kinds of prophecy; here, two kinds are present, and so forth. 'Bestowal' (shòu) means to give; 'prophecy' (jì) means to record matters of achieving the Way. Here, prophecies of future attainment of Buddhahood are bestowed upon the three Great Beings and the ten thousand devas, hence it is called 'bestowal of prophecy'. It is also called 'bestowal of distinction' (shòubié) and 'bestowal of determination' (shòujué). Bestowing the quantity of kalpas and lands is called bié; investigating the actual truth without falsehood is called jué. From the perspective of what is given by the Buddha, it is called 'bestowing' (shòu 授); from the perspective of what is obtained by them, it is called 'receiving' (shòu 受). Here, it is from the perspective of what is given by the Buddha, hence it is termed 'bestowing prophecy'. This is the fourth intention within the transmission section: to cite the past causes of practicing the sūtra that only then achieved the perfectly consummate fruit, testifying that propagating and protecting it are not in vain, so as to encourage transmission. The text is divided into two parts: first, giving the prophecy; second, doubt regarding the prophecy. Giving the prophecy is divided into two: first, giving the prophecy to the three Great Beings; second, giving the prophecy to the ten thousand devas. Giving the prophecy to the three Great Beings is again divided into two: first, those with common conditions assemble; second, the actual giving of the prophecy. Regarding the world transforming its name to 'Pure Banner', one should discuss the tetralemma, of which this is one. The prophecy for the ten thousand [devas] is also divided into two: first, hearing the sūtra and generating understanding; second, the actual giving of the prophecy, and so forth.