法界次第初門 3.11

3.11

Explaining the six pāramitās next after the four universal vows is because on the bodhisattva's path, vows and practice support one another; once the great vows have been made, one must cultivate practice. Now the six pāramitās are the root of the bodhisattva's correct practice; therefore, the Lotus Sūtra says: "For those who seek the bodhisattva path, he expounded the corresponding six pāramitās." Hence they are explained next after the universal vows. "Dāna", "śīla", and on to "prajñā" are foreign words; their names will each be translated below in the specific explanations. These six are collectively called pāramitā, which is a word from the Western Regions; Qin translations of the sūtras and treatises mostly differ. Here I briefly present three translations: it is either translated as "ultimate completion of affairs", translated as "reaching the other shore", or translated as "crossing beyond the limit". By cultivating these six dharmas, the bodhisattva is able to ultimately complete both shared and distinct causes and effects, and all matters of self-cultivation and transforming others; hence it is called "ultimate completion of affairs". Riding upon these six dharmas, one is able to go from this shore of the two kinds of saṃsāra to the other shore of the two kinds of nirvāṇa; this is called "reaching the other shore". Relying on these six dharmas, one can cross beyond the vast expanses of the two kinds of principles and phenomena, shared and distinct, among all dharmas; hence it is called "crossing beyond the limit". If one relies on the specific explanation, each of the three translations has its own primary focus; if one relies on the shared understanding, although the three translations differ, their intent is identical and without distinction.