注大乘入楞伽經 9.124

9.124

In the 'Dhāraṇī Chapter' of the *Lotus Sūtra* (*Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra*), Tiantai translates the name and explains the meaning using the four siddhāntas. 'Dhāraṇī' is translated here as 'total retention' (zongchi): totally retaining so that evil does not arise, and good is not lost (the first). It is also translated as 'capable of blocking and capable of holding': capable of holding good and capable of blocking evil (the second and third). This is capable of blocking the evil of the extremes, and capable of holding the good of the middle (the fourth). The various sūtras differ in opening and restricting: some are specifically used to cure illness, as with the householder Nata; some specifically protect the Dharma, as in this text; some are specifically used to extinguish transgressions, as in the *Vaipulya*; some are generally used to cure illness, extinguish transgressions, and protect the sūtra, as in the *Qing Guanyin*; or the great bright spell, the unsurpassed bright spell, the unequalled bright spell, which are not for curing illness, not for extinguishing transgressions, and not for protecting the sūtra. If one takes the comprehensive way, it should also encompass them; if one discusses their distinctions, one must fortunately rely on the sūtras without departing from the teaching.