俱舍論頌疏論本 1.3

1.3

In the past, more than nine hundred years after Śākya[muni] departed the world, the Bodhisattva Vasubandhu compiled a thousand treatises. His propagation was exceptionally far-reaching and his inspiration truly profound; yet when it comes to setting forth doctrinal approaches and analyzing technical terms—concise in expression yet vast in scope, subtle in language yet lucid in principle—this Abhidharmakośaśāstra is acclaimed as particularly masterful. Although rooted in the Vibhāṣā and primarily interpreting the Abhidharmapiṭaka, if one can fathom the imports of the faculties and realms, exhaust the origins of worldly beings and sages, discern causes and conditions across the ultimate and conventional [truths], and dispel attachments to the personal and phenomenal self, then more than half of the twelve divisions of the canon will have been pondered, and the eighty thousand Dharma gates may thereby be known. How could it merely direct one toward the Small Vehicle and exclusively specialize in teaching existence? The Great Tang Tripiṭaka Dharma Master Xuanzang personally obtained the Sanskrit text and retranslated the true scriptures. His disciple, Dharma Master Dacheng Guang, received his intimate instruction in person and first transmitted the orthodox commentary; having achieved utmost perfection, what more could be added? Nevertheless, when a treatise branches, its expositions become verbose, and when its meanings are rich, its expressions can grow burdensome; beginners setting out to study it find it difficult to accomplish both [brevity and depth]. There was the Worthy Yuanhui, whose torch of wisdom burned bright and whose pearl of precepts was clear and luminous; an exemplar for later generations, acknowledged by earlier masters. In youth he was fond of this text, and grown to adulthood he attained a singular mastery of it. Once during an interval of leisure, he came to discuss it with me. Beset at the time by mundane dust, I was weary of reading through [such extensive works], and thus requested a brief commentary, first clarifying the verse text. Gracious to fulfill my wish, he joyfully consented in silence. The venerable elders of former days, upon hearing of it, praised it profoundly. Before long, his abridgment was swiftly completed; through conciseness it is easily understood, and through its merits it can endure. Though consenting to a layman’s petition, it serves as a resource for those in training (śaikṣa); the work of a virtuous man will surely not perish. The Venerable has already stated his intent in a separate preface. Because I was the original cause of its undertaking, and wishing to proclaim it once more in recurrent appreciation of his fine intent, I have written this record. May it enable those of expansive wisdom in future rebirths to remotely realize universal discernment, and cause the assembly of past sages to feel perpetual shame at partial understanding. So it is said.