金剛般若論會釋 2.31

2.31

The treatise text is divided into two parts: first, indicating the title and assigning it to the sūtra; and finally, explaining the sūtra's meaning. Here, "in order to avoid the inability to endure suffering" adduces the obstacle to be eliminated and reveals the practice that can be cultivated. The preceding fascicle merely said "in order to endure suffering," which only clarified the primary mental practice to generate the subsequent text. Vasubandhu's treatise states: "It extensively dispels doubts." What are the doubts? Previously it spoke of the suffering of giving up one's body: that giving up one's body entails the suffering of bodily karmic retribution, and that merit is inferior; whereas relying on this Dharma-gate, bodhisattvas accept, uphold, expound, and practice austerities, and those austerities are also suffering retributions. Why is the bodily karmic merit of this Dharma-gate supreme and does not induce the various suffering retributions of saṃsāra? The meaning of the text below states: previously giving up body and life could not endure suffering, and therefore induced inferior merit; giving up the body for the Dharma is truly able to endure suffering, and therefore induces supreme merit. Vasubandhu's doubt arises from the preceding text, whereas this treatise directly explains that text. Each relies on its own sūtra, and in principle there is no contradiction.