金光明經文句記 6.97

6.97

Sixth, explaining the "Chapter on Abandoning the Body," in two parts: first, explaining the title, in two parts: first, asking about abandoning many things while the title is few; second, from "this is based on" onward, answering that the title is established based on the essential. The recipient required the body; pressed by tiger hunger, it specifically required the body's flesh, whereas life, wealth, and status were not what it sought. Now, the gates of practice are immeasurable, their roots deriving from past fumigation; the four kinds of samādhi follow what a person esteems, skillfully practicing the six perfections in accordance with their own intent. Those who delight in practicing giving have no begrudging thrift regarding body, life, or wealth; practicing it themselves, teaching others, rejoicing in accord, and praising—all rest in giving. If one practices the practice of giving in reliance on a good master and based on the true teaching, realizing that the mind capable of giving and the object receiving the giving, as well as the body and other things given, are identical with emptiness, provisionality, and the middle, phenomenal practice and contemplation of principle are practiced in union as auxiliary paths, the correct cultivation and mutual aid advancing together; since it accords with one's original habit, one undertakes it with joy. Sometimes it is carried out suddenly on account of an event, because past conditions meet; sometimes it is a solemn vow of accumulated years, to cause contemplation to be accomplished; sometimes one openly sets forth one's vow, to cause beings to emulate it; sometimes one secretly fulfills one's intention, to put an end to others' slander. When compassion is heavy, it is secret; when benevolence is heavy, it is open. If the mind is genuine, the four siddhāntas are all accomplished; if the mind is deceitful, both benefits are lost. However, the Buddha discusses past events to cause people to emulate and practice them; therefore the Commentary says: "Citing the past sacrifice of the body admonishes today's master and disciple not to begrudge the Dharma-wealth." Question: The Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa says: "Abandoning the body is easy; abandoning the mind is difficult." The treatise wishes practitioners to abandon the clinging mind, hence it sighs at it as difficult; wishing to put an end to phenomenal giving, it reproaches it as easy. Why not rely on the treatise to stay far away from the clinging mind? Why do people nowadays like to abandon body and life? Answer: Elevating and depreciating, taking up and setting aside, all accord with the Buddha's teachings and meet people's minds. The Buddha discussed the primary and auxiliary; different people's inclinations, phenomena, and principle are not uniform. The present chapter specifically shows the abandonment of body and life; how could one take the treatise's difficulty and easiness as a mockery? Furthermore, empty talk of abandoning the mind while clinging to one's own views, glued stubbornly to one's own substance without parting with a single hair, reviling others' abandonment of life as wrong—since this contradicts the mind of rejoicing in accord, how could one escape the fault of envying good? May you listen to the Buddha's preaching and practice in accordance with your strength.