大乘義章 4.51

4.51

第三明其修入次第。依如論中，所修有二：一小智慧門，謂十八空；二大智慧門，謂波若空。彼十八空，破相之空，隨詮局別，名之為小。彼波若空，契實離相，名之為大。又緣觀心，緣十八空，名之為小。滅觀波若，照諸法空，名之。於此二中，先學小門、後學大門。所學小門，即《涅槃》中前之十空。所入大門，即《涅槃》中後一大空。又學小門，即是世間因分行德。證入大門，即是出世果分行德。若通詮教，則有三種：一小智慧門，謂《波若經》。二中智慧門，謂十八空。三大智慧門，謂波若空。於此三中，先學小門、次學中門、後入大門。云何學小？依《波若經》，受持讀誦，正念思惟，如說修行。云何學中？依前修習小慧門故，得十八空，如入大海便得寶物。云何學大？依前修習十八空觀破相力故，便入甚深波若真空。得此空故，心相寂滅，猶如虛空，畢竟平等，無緣無取。十八空義，略之云爾。

Third is to clarify the sequence of cultivation and entry. According to the treatise, that which is cultivated is twofold: first, the gateway of lesser wisdom, namely the eighteen emptinesses; second, the gateway of greater wisdom, namely the emptiness of prajñā. That emptiness of the eighteen emptinesses breaks through marks; being delimited according to specific explanations, it is called 'lesser'. That emptiness of prajñā accords with reality and transcends marks; it is called 'greater'. Furthermore, the mind of contemplation with conditions takes the eighteen emptinesses as condition, so it is called 'lesser'; prajñā, which extinguishes contemplation, illuminates the emptiness of all dharmas, so it is called ['greater']. Between these two, one first learns the lesser gateway and later learns the greater gateway. The lesser gateway that is learned is precisely the former ten emptinesses in the *Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra*. The greater gateway that is entered is precisely the latter single great emptiness in the *Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra*. Furthermore, learning the lesser gateway is precisely the mundane causal virtue of practice; realizing entry into the greater gateway is precisely the supramundane fruitional virtue of practice. If one comprehensively considers the expressed teachings, there are three kinds: first, the gateway of lesser wisdom, namely the *Prajñāpāramitā-sūtra*; second, the gateway of middling wisdom, namely the eighteen emptinesses; third, the gateway of greater wisdom, namely the emptiness of prajñā. Among these three, one first learns the lesser gateway, next learns the middling gateway, and later enters the greater gateway. How does one learn the lesser? Relying on the *Prajñāpāramitā-sūtra*, one upholds, recites, mindfully reflects, and practices as taught. How does one learn the middling? Because one has previously cultivated the gateway of lesser wisdom, one attains the eighteen emptinesses, just as upon entering the great ocean, one then obtains treasures. How does one learn the greater? Because of the power of having previously cultivated the contemplation of the eighteen emptinesses that breaks through marks, one then enters the profound true emptiness of prajñā. Having attained this emptiness, the mental marks are tranquil and extinguished, like empty space, ultimately equal, without conditions and without grasping. The doctrine of the eighteen emptinesses is briefly summarized as such.