佛祖統紀 3.81

3.81

Regarding "during twenty years," the author comments: In the Chapter on Faith and Understanding, the phrase "during twenty years" appears in three places to represent the Dharma, each having its own significance. First, "for twenty years he was constantly made to clear away dung" (classified as the parable of pursuit and inducement): one liberation and one unhinderedness in the stage of seeing the truths, and nine unhinderednesses and nine liberations in cultivating the truths, hence it says "twenty" (the Wenju gives seven explanations for this). Second, "twenty years passed while he managed the family business" (classified as fully taking charge of the family estate): abiding in the position of the two vehicles, turning the Mahāyāna teaching (Wenju). Third, "it has been twenty years since I first saw my son" (classified as establishing the natural bond of father and son): having the capacity of the two vehicles, they came and resonated with the Buddha (Wenju). The first one adds up to the number twenty: that is, using the eight forbearances and eight wisdoms to sever views combines into one liberation and one unhinderedness; using the nine unhinderednesses and nine liberations to sever thought, together they make twenty. The latter two combine only two meanings. Therefore, the Miaole says: severing views is one; severing thought is one. The Fuxing says: in terms of persons, it is the two vehicles; in terms of principle, it is the two truths of the ultimate and conventional; in terms of delusion, views and thought are both broken. An objection asks: "Two meanings may be so, but what of the ten meanings?" The answer is: the two vehicles each have ten wisdoms (the ten wisdoms are conventional wisdom, other-minds wisdom, and so forth). Thus, in all three passages from beginning to end, the meaning of twenty is seen.