首楞嚴義疏注經 1.22

1.22

This is a distinctive title. India (Yindu) is a name for the moon, fully called Indu, rendered here as 'Moon Country', because this large country compares to the smaller countries like the moon among the stars. There are five Indias, and this is the central one, which is the general name for the whole region. Within this region there are many distinct countries, the most venerable and largest of which is named Magadha, rendered here as 'Great Substance' because it encompasses all, or 'Non-harming', both being semantic translations. Nālandā is translated here as 'giving without satiety', which is the name of a nāga. The Record of the Western Regions states: 'In the country of Āmra there is a pool, and in the pool is a nāga named Giving Without Satiety; the monastery is near that pool, hence it takes its name.' 'Great Bodhimaṇḍa' is the place where śramaṇas realise the mind and cultivate the Way. After the Buddha passed into extinction, six emperors successively revived it, constructing extensive azure temples, uniting the parks into one, and erecting a single main gate. Ten thousand resident and visiting monks lived there, and its monastic governance was lofty and sublime; no famous monastery in India surpassed it, hence it is called 'Great'. As for the 'Abhiṣeka Section', there are five sections there, and this corresponds to one of them, with Vairocana as the lord. Since the section and place are indicated, they can be relied upon for investigation, so that one will not suspect it of being a recent translation and doubt that it is an authentic teaching.