大乘起信論義疏 1.2

1.2

The Awakening of Faith in the Mahāyāna is a wondrous treatise that proclaims and reveals the ultimate, profound principle. It is a sharp blade that cuts down heterodoxy, a deep abyss that rejects shallowness, and a victorious banner that establishes correctness. For this reason, the Buddhas and dharmakāya bodhisattvas all take this teaching as their essence, while pṛthagjanas and the two vehicles take this principle as their nature; transformation from an ordinary person to a sage is in no case accomplished without it. Therefore, to indicate the pre-eminence of this teaching, crossing beyond the great ocean and Mount Sumeru, on the Iron Ring Mountains within the city of Laṅkā, in the palace of the ten-headed rākṣasa, the Sage of the Śākyas taught this Dharma. This indicates that it transcends the sphere of the three vehicles, just as [explained by] the author of the Saddharmapuṇḍarīkopadeśa. That treatise master asks: "Why did [the Buddha] dwell on this Vulture Peak to preach this Dharma?" He explains: "It is to designate the pre-eminence of this ekayāna Dharma, designating it by means of the place." Furthermore, it is asked in the Daśabhūmivyākhyāna: "Why was this Dharma gate taught in the palace of maṇi jewels in this Paranirmitavaśavartin Heaven?" He explains: "It is to designate the pre-eminence of the Dharma gate of the ten grounds, because it is of superior measure." Here it is also like this. Although the teachings spoken in a single dispensation are numerous, in essence there are only two: first, the Śrāvakapiṭaka; second, the Bodhisattvapiṭaka. The teaching of the śrāvaka Dharma is named the Śrāvakapiṭaka; the teaching of the bodhisattva Dharma is named the Bodhisattvapiṭaka. How is it known that the Buddha's teachings are only two? There are both events and texts. As for the events: after the Buddha's parinirvāṇa, Kāśyapa and Ānanda compiled the three piṭakas at Rājagṛha, which is called the Śrāvakapiṭaka; Mañjuśrī and Ānanda compiled the Mahāyāna at the Iron Ring Mountains, which is called the Bodhisattvapiṭaka. Thus we know that the Buddha's teachings do not go beyond these two. As for the texts: the Nirvāṇa Sūtra states, "Among the twelve divisions, only the Vaipulya division is upheld by bodhisattvas; the remaining eleven divisions are upheld by śrāvakas." In the Bodhisattvabhūmi, it is also explained in the same way. Below it also states, "The sūtras teach the path of transcending suffering for śrāvakas and bodhisattvas." Those who compiled the scriptures compiled the two piṭakas: expounding śrāvaka practices is the Śrāvakapiṭaka, and expounding bodhisattva practices is the Bodhisattvapiṭaka. Thus we know that what was taught does not go beyond these two. They are also called Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna, or the half-word and full-word teachings. Though the names differ, their meaning is not distinct. Within these two piṭakas, each is divided into three: namely, sūtra, vinaya, and abhidharma. As for the three piṭakas of the Hīnayāna: scriptures such as the four Āgamas are the Sūtrapiṭaka; the five divisions of the vinaya are the Vinayapiṭaka; and the abhidharma and the Tattvasiddhi-śāstra are the Abhidharmapiṭaka. As for the three piṭakas of the Mahāyāna: scriptures such as the Nirvāṇa Sūtra and Avataṃsaka Sūtra are the Sūtrapiṭaka; scriptures such as the Sūtra of Pure Vinaya and Vaipulya are the Vinayapiṭaka; and treatises such as the Daśabhūmi and Bodhisattvabhūmi are the Abhidharmapiṭaka. Now, this treatise is subsumed under the Bodhisattvapiṭaka between the two piṭakas, and is the third, the Abhidharmapiṭaka, among the three piṭakas. It is also called the Mātṛkāpiṭaka, translated here as "realm of practice"; it is also called the mayi, translated here as "mother of practice." What is clarified in this treatise takes the principle of the eight consciousnesses as essence and the practice of the Dharma as principal theme. The bodhisattvas, relying upon this principle, are able to give rise to cultivation, and relying on cultivation, they accomplish virtue; therefore it is called the Bodhisattva-mātṛkāpiṭaka.