[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [法苑珠林](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122) › 19.42 # 法苑珠林 19.42 法苑珠林 19.42 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [19.42](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.19.42) 如寶性論云。三寶有六義。故須敬也。一者希有義。如世寶物貧窮之人所不能得。三寶如是。薄福眾生百千萬世不能值遇。故名為寶。二者離垢義。如世真寶體無瑕穢。三寶如是。絕離諸漏。故名為寶。三者勢力義。如世珍寶除貧去毒有大勢力。三寶如是。具不思議六神通力。故說為寶。四者莊嚴義。如世珍寶能嚴身首令身姝好。三寶如是。能嚴行人清淨身故。故說為寶。五者最勝義。如世珍寶譬諸物中勝。三寶如是。一切世中最為殊勝。故名為寶。六者不改義。如世真金燒打磨練不能變改。三寶如是。不為世間八法所改。故名為寶。又具六意。故須敬也。一佛能誨示。法是良藥。能傳通。皆利益於我。報恩故敬。二末代惡時傳法不易。請威加護。故須致敬。三為物生信稟承故敬。四示僧尼敬事儀式。五令樂供養法得久住故敬。六為表勝相故敬。故成論云。三寶最吉祥。故我經初置。 > As the Ratnagotravibhāga states: The Three Jewels have six meanings, which is why they must be revered. First is the meaning of rarity: just as worldly precious objects cannot be obtained by the poor, so it is with the Three Jewels—sentient beings of meager merit cannot encounter them in hundreds of thousands of myriad lifetimes; therefore they are called jewels. Second is the meaning of freedom from defilement: just as worldly genuine jewels have no flaws or filth in their substance, so it is with the Three Jewels—they are utterly free from all outflows; therefore they are called jewels. Third is the meaning of power: just as worldly precious jewels have great power to eliminate poverty and expel poison, so it is with the Three Jewels—they possess the inconceivable power of the six supernatural knowledges (ṣaḍ-abhijñā); therefore they are spoken of as jewels. Fourth is the meaning of adornment: just as worldly precious jewels can adorn the body and head, making the person attractive, so it is with the Three Jewels—because they can adorn the pure body of the practitioner; therefore they are spoken of as jewels. Fifth is the meaning of supreme excellence: just as worldly precious jewels are the finest among all things, so it is with the Three Jewels—they are the most superior in all the world; therefore they are called jewels. Sixth is the meaning of immutability: just as worldly genuine gold cannot be altered by burning, striking, or polishing, so it is with the Three Jewels—they are not altered by the eight worldly dharmas; therefore they are called jewels. Furthermore, they encompass six intentions, which is why they must be revered: first, the Buddha is able to instruct, the Dharma is good medicine, and the Saṃgha can transmit and circulate it—all bringing benefit to me; thus they are revered to repay their kindness; second, in the evil times of the final age, transmitting the Dharma is difficult, so we request their awe-inspiring protection; therefore we must pay reverence; third, to generate faith in living beings so that they receive and uphold it, they are revered; fourth, to demonstrate the etiquette of reverence for monks and nuns; fifth, to make people delight in offerings so that the Dharma may long endure, they are revered; sixth, to manifest supreme characteristics, they are revered. Therefore, the Tattvasiddhi-śāstra states: 'The Three Jewels are the most auspicious; hence, I place them at the beginning of the treatise.' > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 19.41](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.19.41) - [Next: 19.43](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.19.43) - [Up: 19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.19) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122~en-mt.19.42) — English, machine translation ## Linked texts (1) - [大乘義章](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.1851.10.5) — Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.19.42](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.19.42) · Pramāṇa