四分律行事鈔資持記 2.140

2.140

答中。引論示意，還約三學引生次第；戒範在先，故獨名法。若爾，經亦訓法，論翻對法無比法等，是則餘藏亦得名法，豈獨律耶？答：修多翻線，西竺本名；此土《字書》，訓經為法。又論稱法者，或從法相，如陰界入等；或即法門，諦緣度等；或就法體，涅槃理等。毘尼不爾，中梵本名；復是教詮，名相楷定；是非可不，必從文斷，故與餘藏法義天別。問：彼法門義，亦即從教？答：若就通論，三藏教詮，竝名為法；但戒引生軌物義勝，先據斯目；餘雖號法，弱故不彰；若約別論，三名各異，如上所列。

In the answer: The treatise is cited to show the intent, which still relates to the order of generating the three trainings: since the model of precepts comes first, it is uniquely named "Dharma." If so, sūtras are also glossed as "dharmas," and treatises are translated as "counter-dharma," "incomparable dharma," and so forth; thus the other treasuries would also be entitled to the name "Dharma"—how could it be the Vinaya alone? Answer: *Sūtra* translates as "thread," which was its original name in the Western Regions; the character books of this land gloss "scripture" (sūtra) as "model/dharma." Furthermore, when treatises are called "dharma," it is either in reference to dharma-marks (such as the aggregates, realms, and entrances), or refers to doctrinal methods (such as the truths, conditions, and perfections), or concerns the dharma-essence (such as the principle of nirvāṇa). The Vinaya is not like this: it is its original name in Central India; furthermore, it is an expounding of teaching whose designations and marks are standardized and fixed; right, wrong, permitted, and impermissible must be determined by the text, and therefore its sense of "dharma" is worlds apart from the other treasuries. Question: Does the meaning of their doctrinal methods also derive from the teaching? Answer: If spoken of generally, the doctrinal expositions of the three treasuries are all named "dharma"; but because the precepts' meaning of generating and guiding beings is superior, they first occupy this title; though the rest are called dharma, they are weak and therefore not prominent. If spoken of distinctively, the three names are each different, as listed above.