[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [大乘義章](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1851) › 10.10 # 大乘義章 10.10 大乘義章 10.10 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [10.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1851.10.10) 住持云何？小乘法中，泥龕木像為住持佛，綿素竹帛為住持法，凡夫比丘為住持僧。大乘法中，住持有二：一化用住持、二實德住持。言化用者，諸佛如來大悲作用充遍法界，八相成道為住持佛，隨化所說一切言教流布益世為住持法，依法化成三乘諸眾為住持僧。又復諸佛雖得涅槃，畢竟不捨菩薩所行，常能示為菩薩聲聞緣覺等事，此亦名為住持僧也。化用如是。實德云何？諸佛如來法身常住為住持佛，法性常恒為住持法，諸佛如來僧行不滅為住持僧。住持三寶，辨之麁爾（此二門竟）。 > What is meant by the sustaining \[aspect\]? In the Hīnayāna teachings, clay shrines and wooden statues are the sustaining Buddha; silk, bamboo, and cloth \[scriptures\] are the sustaining Dharma; and ordinary monks are the sustaining Saṅgha. In the Mahāyāna teachings, the sustaining \[aspect\] is twofold: first, the sustaining through transformative function; second, the sustaining through real virtues. As for transformative function, the great compassion and activities of the Buddhas, the Tathāgatas, pervade the Dharma realm: their accomplishing the Path through the eight aspects is the sustaining Buddha; all the verbal teachings delivered in accord with transformative conversion, circulating to benefit the world, are the sustaining Dharma; and the various assemblies of the three vehicles transformed and accomplished in reliance on the Dharma are the sustaining Saṅgha. Furthermore, although the Buddhas have attained nirvāṇa, they never abandon the bodhisattva's practice, constantly manifesting such deeds as those of bodhisattvas, śrāvakas, and pratyekabuddhas; this is also called the sustaining Saṅgha. Such is transformative function. What is the sustaining through real virtues? The Tathāgatas' eternally abiding dharmakāya is the sustaining Buddha; the eternal constancy of the dharmatā is the sustaining Dharma; and the Tathāgatas' imperishable practice of the Saṅgha is the sustaining Saṅgha. The sustaining Three Jewels have thus been roughly distinguished. (These two sections are concluded.) > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 10.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1851.10.9) - [Next: 10.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1851.10.11) - [Up: 10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1851.10) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1851~en-mt.10.10) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1851.10.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1851.10.10) · Pramāṇa