釋氏要覽 2.228

2.228

梵音達磨。華言法。以軌持為義。謂軌物生解。任持自性故○般若燈論云。何名法。若欲得人天善趣。及解脫樂。佛知眾生諸根性。欲不顛倒故。說人天道及涅槃道故。名法。復次自他相續。所有熏習。及無熏習。煩惱怨賊悉能破散故。名法也。今就住持法寶。分為三。謂經律論焉。

In Sanskrit, dharma; in Chinese, fa (law/standard). Its meaning is that of a model and upholding, which means it models things to give rise to understanding and maintains its own intrinsic nature. The Prajñāpradīpa-śāstra states: 'What is called Dharma? If one wishes to attain the good destinies of humans and devas as well as the bliss of liberation, because the Buddha knows the dispositions and inclinations of sentient beings and wishes them not to be inverted, he teaches the path of humans and devas and the path to nirvāṇa; therefore it is called Dharma. Furthermore, within the continuities of oneself and others, it can destroy and scatter all habit-energies, lack of habit-energies, and the bandit-like defilements; therefore it is called Dharma.' Now, in terms of the abiding Dharma Jewel, it is divided into three, namely the sūtras, the vinaya, and the śāstras.