御注金剛般若波羅蜜經宣演 2.36

2.36

The first two characters of the verse generally raise the metaphors of darkness and light. Thus the prose states: 'Those metaphors of darkness and light are due to resemblance,' and so forth. In the specific explanation, darkness illustrates ignorance, and light illustrates having wisdom. The 'counterpart phenomenon' is precisely that which can counteract and eliminate. The sun of wisdom illustrates the essence of wisdom, while the sun illustrates the function of wisdom. Although both are wisdom, because essence and function differ, they are divided into two metaphors. When the verse says 'the antidote and the phenomenon of cessation', this refers to the cessation of the aspect of darkness that was to be counteracted. Therefore, it is said that 'the portion of the night has come to an end' because the counterpart phenomenon of darkness has been exhausted.