天台八教大意 1.34

1.34

Now, following the Buddha's intent, rolling up the expedient and returning to the real, the perfection of opening and revealing is roughly set forth in its main outlines. That is, taking the end of the 'Chapter on Distinguishing Merits' in the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka, it clarifies the propagation of origin and traces. After the Tathāgata's extinction, the five grades hear the sūtra and turn to preach it, giving rise to contemplative practice that becomes accomplished, which is taken as the foremost application of mind for the stage of ordinary beings. The sūtra says: 'Furthermore, after the Tathāgata's extinction, if someone hears this sūtra and does not slander it, but gives rise to a mind of joyful conformity, and going out from the assembly into villages, towns, and fields, expounds it according to their ability for parents and relatives; passing on like this in turn up to the fiftieth person who hears it and rejoices in conformity—the blessings of this person surpass making four million billion nayuta Ganges-sands of sentient beings attain arhatship; one part in a hundred thousand myriad billion does not equal it.' This is the first grade of joyful conformity. The sūtra says: 'How much more so one who reads, recites, accepts, and upholds it.' This is the second grade. The sūtra says: 'If there is someone who accepts, upholds, reads, recites, and explains it for others.' This is the third grade. The sūtra says: 'How much more so if someone can uphold this sūtra and concurrently practice giving, morality, patience, vigor, single-mindedness, and wisdom—this is concurrently practicing the six perfections.' This is the fourth grade. The sūtra says: 'If a person reads, recites, and explains it for others, and can also uphold morality, be patient without anger, be vigorously courageous, attain deep concentrations, and answer questions with wisdom—this is fully practicing the six perfections.' This is the fifth grade. The reckoning at the beginning of the first grade is unfathomable; the remaining four grades are beyond the comprehension of ordinary beings and followers of the lesser [vehicle]. It is briefly like the sūtra text; it cannot be detailed in full.