諸經要集 12.39

12.39

Question: Unwholesome dharmas are limitless and boundless; why abandon only five dharmas? Answer: Among these five dharmas, although the names seem narrow, the meaning covers the three poisons, and also comprehensively subsumes the eighty-four thousand gates of defilement. The first, the hindrance of sensual desire, is the poison of greed. The second, the hindrance of ill will, is the poison of anger. The third, the hindrances of drowsiness-and-torpor and of doubt, are the poison of delusion. The single hindrance of restlessness and regret is the equal distribution [of the three]. When gathered together, they form four divisions of defilement. Within each single one there are twenty-one thousand, and within the four together there are eighty-four thousand gates of defilement. Therefore, if one can remove these five hindrances, one will be able to fully abandon all unwholesome dharmas. It is like being freed from debt, or recovering from a severe illness; like a starving person arriving at an abundant land, or freeing oneself from among evil bandits, peaceful and without distress. The practitioner is also like this: by removing these five hindrances, his mind becomes pure. For instance, if the sun or moon is covered by five things—namely smoke, clouds, dust, mist, or the hand of an asura—it is not clear; the mind is also like this. Joining the analogy, it may be understood. The eulogy says: