華嚴經明法品內立三寶章 1.14

1.14

先釋總名。三是數、寶是喻義，從數義立名，即帶數釋也。又寶是可貴義，依《寶性論》，寶有六義：一、希有義，如世珍寶，以難得故，無善根眾生經百千劫不能得故。二、無垢義，如世珍寶清淨無垢；三寶亦爾，以離一切有漏法故。三、勢力義，如世珠寶置濁水中，令水澄淨；三寶亦爾，以具六通等功德故，令眾生澄惑業苦三濁，成淨信智等故。四、莊嚴義，如世珍寶能雨寶，莊嚴眾生；三寶亦爾，莊嚴行者出世行故。五、最上義，如世珍寶於諸物中最為微妙；三寶亦爾，過世間故。六、不變義，如世珍寶以體真故，不可改易；三寶亦爾，以得無流法故，世間八法所不能動故也。彼論偈云「真寶世希有，明淨及勢力，能莊嚴世間，最上不變等」也。

First, explaining the general name. "Three" is a number, and "Jewel" is a metaphorical meaning; establishing the name from the meaning of number, this is a compound incorporating number (dvigu). Furthermore, "jewel" has the meaning of being precious. According to the Ratnagotravibhāga, a jewel has six meanings: first, rarity—like worldly rare jewels, being difficult to obtain, because sentient beings without good roots cannot obtain them even through hundreds of thousands of kalpas. Second, undefiledness—like worldly rare jewels which are pure and undefiled; the Three Jewels are also like this, because they are free from all contaminated phenomena. Third, power—like a worldly jewel placed into turbid water which causes the water to become clear and pure; the Three Jewels are also like this, because possessing virtues such as the six superknowledges, they cause sentient beings to clarify the three turbidities of afflictions, karma, and suffering, and achieve pure faith, wisdom, and so forth. Fourth, ornamentation—like worldly rare jewels that can rain down jewels to adorn sentient beings; the Three Jewels are also like this, adorning the practitioner's supramundane practice. Fifth, supremacy—like worldly rare jewels that are the most exquisite among all things; the Three Jewels are also like this, surpassing the mundane world. Sixth, unchangeability—like worldly rare jewels whose essence is real and therefore cannot be altered; the Three Jewels are also like this, because having attained uncontaminated dharmas, they cannot be moved by the eight worldly conditions. That treatise's verse says: "Real jewels are rare in the world, / Bright, pure, and endowed with power; / Able to adorn the world, / Supreme, unchangeable, and so forth."