梵網經古迹記 1.8

1.8

Regarding the title: Brahmajāla-sūtra is the overall name of the entire work. "Locana Buddha Spoke the Chapter on the Mind-Ground Dharma Gate, Number Ten" is the specific title of this chapter. "Brahma" has the meaning of being able to purify; "jāla" (net) has the meaning of gathering sentient beings. That is, this sūtra, up to the peak of existence, captures sentient beings in the great ocean of birth and death and ultimately delivers them to the shore of unexcelled serene extinction, endlessly benefiting all kinds of the hungry and thirsty, like a worldly net. To demonstrate this meaning, the various Brahma kings held net banners to offer to the Buddha and listen to the Dharma, and because of this the Buddha explained the differences among worlds. Just like the meshes of a net, the Buddha's doctrinal gates are also like this. Regarding the differences among worlds: Mount Sumeru shapes, tree shapes, inverted worlds, and so forth mutually penetrate everywhere. Regarding the Buddha's doctrinal gates: though the Dharma has a single flavour, the gates of aggregates, elements, sense-bases, and so forth differ. Thus, just as the meshes of the Brahma lord's net are many while the net is one, the precept Dharma of the Dharma King should be known to be likewise. Although the gates are like sands of dust, they ultimately return to a single path; when the myriad practices are in a single gate, it is called grasping the essential meaning. Practicing while grasping the essential meaning, all accords with the Dharma-nature; therefore, based on the metaphor, it is named the Brahmajāla-sūtra. "Sūtra" means a thread of discourse, having the sense of stringing together and upholding, because it strings together meanings and upholds sentient beings so they are not scattered and lost. "Locana" is translated here as "Pure and Full," because there is no obstacle that is not purified and no virtue that is not perfected. Master Fazang said: "The Sanskrit manuscripts all say Vairocana, translated here as 'Light Shining Everywhere', because his wisdom illuminates the dharmadhātu and his body responds to great capacities." Marking this name beneath the words "Brahmajāla" is done to distinguish it from the other chapters spoken by Śākyamuni. "Buddha" means the Awakened One, whose three senses are as usual. "Spoke" means using the perfect voice to skilfully respond and give rise to understanding. The myriad virtues of consciousness-only arising and growing from this are named "mind". The ford for exiting suffering and the portal for entering purity are called the "Dharma gate". Because the text and meaning are classified into a category, it is named "chapter". This chapter on the mind-ground has two overall gates: first, spoken by the fundamental teacher; second, spoken by the transformationally transmitted [Buddha]. The first contains five: the assembly at the place, alerting [the assembly], posing the inquiry, seeing and asking, and entrustment.