梵網經菩薩戒本疏 1.2

1.2

Now, the dharmakāya responds in vacuity, permeating the shores of existence to manifest form; wondrous wisdom secretly penetrates, reaching the boundless to illuminate phenomena. Supreme truth illumines principle: identical with phenomena, it can yet realize principle, revolving far beyond the reach of sight and hearing; dark expedient means unite with phenomena: identical with principle, they can yet effect phenomena, towering far above worldly snares and nets. Thus within the Padmagarbha World, the sun and moon are suspended to shine down; the king of bodhi trees pours out sweet dew to bring salvation. One thousand petals and hundreds of millions of worlds—Rocana is the fundamental body; the ten major and forty-eight minor precepts—Śākyamuni is the derivative transformation. The ineffable Dharma opens the mind-ground upon the tip of a single hair; the inconceivable light radiates from the entire body, transforming at the summit of the material realm. Thereupon the forty-two ranks are practiced in common by the great beings; the eighty thousand deportments are achieved together by the sages and worthies. How much more so the precepts as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, which completely embrace the three clusters [of precepts] according to conditions; the disciplinary rules as numerous as dust motes, which thoroughly gather the six ranks according to conditions! Existing like Indra's net, they are identical yet not identical; resembling the ocean of sarvajñā, they are different yet not different. Equal to the maṇi that rains down gems, they succor and nourish the common populace; likened to the necklace that adorns the body, their merit culminates in wondrous enlightenment. Therefore, among the bodhisattvas of the five ranks, there are none who do not rely on this for the perfection of their causes; among the Tathāgatas of the three periods of time, there are none who do not attain the fulfillment of their fruits thereby. Being both the direct path to the bodhimaṇḍa and the excellent model for the seed of enlightenment: how magnificent! How difficult to express in words! Thus, 'Brahma' takes its name from purity, being fundamentally free of defilement; 'Net' establishes its title from the metaphor, manifesting its function; 'Sūtra' strings together and sews, with essence and function expounded alike; 'Rocana' represents the all-illuminating fruition perfected; 'Spoken' indicates the proclamation adapting to capacities. 'Bodhisattva' marks the cause as distinguished from the fruit, revealing the person capable of upholding [them]; 'Ten Major' and the rest distinguish the teaching from the person, revealing the teaching that is upheld. The major are divided into twice five, the minor into six times eight; because they fully prevent and halt [transgressions], they are called 'Precepts'; having no second scroll, it is termed 'One Fascicle.' Hence it is called 'The Brahmajāla Sūtra's Bodhisattva Ten Major and Forty-Eight Minor Precepts Spoken by Rocana Buddha in One Fascicle.'