金光明經文句記 2.68

2.68

First, bringing out the characteristics of their practice. "Vying to grasp shards and gravel" uses the analogy of the spring pond and the lost jewel from the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra. The spring pond analogizes the realm of sentient beings indulging in dust and desires. Losing the jewel analogizes the obscurement of the perfect understanding. Believing in the Hinayana teaching is like entering the water; cultivating contemplation is like seeking the jewel; seeing only biased truth and deeming it ultimate is like obtaining shards and gravel and deeming them genuine pearls. Giving rise to thoughts of tranquil extinction and security is like joyfully carrying them out. "Birth is truly not exhausted" because they still undergo transformative birth. "What had to be done is not completed" because they have not yet cultivated the Buddha-path. Preaching liberation apart from poison is a single, small liberation. Explaining liberation right within poison is called all-liberation, which is great nirvāṇa. Because those with overweening pride cling to the three poisons, the Buddha preached liberation for them, and for that reason preached detachment. Śrāvakas abide in this and deem it the ultimate liberation, but in truth they have not attained all-liberation. This aligns the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa with the Lotus Sūtra, the text bringing out the characteristics of false speech.