少室六門 1.87

1.87

問。如經所說。六波羅蜜者。亦名六度。所謂布施持戒忍辱精進禪定智慧。今言六根清淨。名波羅蜜者。何為通會。又六度者。其義如何。答。欲修六度。當淨六根降六賊。能捨眼賊。離諸色境。名為布施。能禁耳賊。於彼聲塵。不令放逸。名為持戒。能伏鼻賊。等諸香臭。自在調柔。名為忍辱。能制舌賊。不貪諸味。讚詠講說。名為精進。能降身賊。於諸觸慾。湛然不動。名為禪定。能調意賊。不順無明。常修覺慧。名為智慧。六度者運也。六波羅蜜若船筏。能運眾生。達於彼岸。故名六度。

Question: As the sūtras say, the six pāramitās are also called the six crossings, namely dāna, śīla, kṣānti, vīrya, dhyāna, and prajñā. Now you say that the purification of the ṣaḍ-indriya is called pāramitā; how do these correspond? Furthermore, what is the meaning of the six crossings? Answer: If you wish to cultivate the six crossings, you should purify the ṣaḍ-indriya and subdue the six thieves. Being able to abandon the eye-thief and depart from all visible forms is called dāna; being able to restrain the ear-thief from negligence regarding sound-objects is called śīla; being able to subdue the nose-thief, treating pleasant and foul scents equally, being at ease and gentle, is called kṣānti; being able to control the tongue-thief, not craving various tastes, praising and expounding [the Dharma], is called vīrya; being able to subdue the body-thief, remaining serene and unmoved regarding tactile desires, is called dhyāna; being able to tame the mind-thief, not according with avidyā, and constantly cultivating the wisdom of awakening, is called prajñā. 'Crossings' means transport. The six pāramitās are like a boat or raft that can transport sentient beings to the other shore; therefore they are called the six crossings.