金光明懺法補助儀 1.5

1.5

Although the text of the practical rituals in the Bailu is very concise, when one closely examines its meaning, it opens into ten categories, only lacking the single one of the five repentances. What are the ten? First, adorning and purifying the clean chamber; second, purifying the three karmas; third, offering incense and flowers; fourth, invoking and reciting dhāraṇī; fifth, praising and stating the intent; sixth, invoking the names and making offerings; seventh, reverencing the Three Jewels; eighth, practicing the five repentances; ninth, circumambulating and taking refuge; tenth, chanting and reciting the sūtra. The combination and division of its sequence differs slightly from the Bailu; comparing them will make it clear. However, the five repentances are now arranged according to the Chapter on Eradicating Karmic Obstacles. It only mentioned stating the intent of establishing the repentance and omitted the praise; now, according to other liturgical rituals, praise from the Chapter on the Four Heavenly Kings in the new sūtra is used to establish it. The Vaipulya and Saddharmapuṇḍarīka both have "sitting in meditation", whereas this text only instructs "chanting and reciting"; truly there is a profound meaning here, and I dare not alter it. If so, is there also a meaning in not arranging the five repentances? Answer: This should not be treated as analogous; it was merely an omission in the text. Or if someone says that solely reciting up to the Chapter on Repentance constitutes the repentance, that too should not be so. In the combined edition of the Chapter on Eradicating Obstacles, before each repentance, there is a full rite of reverence, after which the confession is disclosed. Thus we know it must be arranged separately.