天台菩薩戒疏 3.19

3.19

From "O Buddha-sons" down is the third major division, the transmission, divided into two: first, transmitting the entire sūtra; next, transmitting this chapter. The first further has four: first, exhorting recitation; next, the transmission proper; third, explaining the benefits; fourth, [each with three]. Under the first, exhorting recitation, having three parts: first, stating the name and number; from "of the three periods" down is the second, citing that all Buddhas of the three periods recite it; from "I now" down is the third, citing Śākyamuni's own recitation; these two passages are cited as the reason for the exhortation. "You all", under the next three passages of the transmission proper: first, exhorting the persons to transmit; from "should accept and uphold" down, next, explaining the characteristics of the transmission; from "circulate" down, the third explains the matter of transmission in terms of time and faculties. From "will see" down, under the third [section on] benefits having three passages: first, explaining meeting the sages; next, from "in lifetime after lifetime" down, explaining leaving suffering; third, from "will be born" down, explaining attaining joy. From "I now" down, under the fourth [section on] the great assembly receiving and upholding having three passages: first, citing oneself to exhort others. Next, from "as in the Formless" down, pointing to the expanded version. As for "Formless", it should be that a deva king is named "Form", and this refers to the chapter on devas' eyes. These various passages are connected with the preceding nine precepts, which is why it points to the expanded version only when reaching here. Third, from "three thousand" down is the great assembly receiving and upholding. "Three thousand scholars" refers to those who learn throughout the three thousand [realms]; some editions have "shi" (gentlemen), which the heavenly palace [commentary] says someone mistakenly altered. Checking the Brahmajāla, the character "zhe" (scholars/those) is the correct one. Briefly citing one field of conversion, it therefore says "three thousand." "Sitting at that time and listening" cites that this southern continent also has the precept manual; without this passage, the text would not be complete, because the former exhorts upholding and the latter receives and upholds.