金剛般若經旨贊 2.179

2.179

Sūtra: "...compared to the previous merit... cannot equal it." / Commentary: This is the actual comparison. The subsequent merit of retaining the sūtra is regarded as greater; the subsequent full citation of the merit of charity does not equal one hundredth, thousandth, ten-thousandth, or hundred-millionth of it; the subsequent is also like this: calculation and metaphor cannot reach it. Here, according to the treatise, there are four kinds of superiority why it cannot equal it: First is numerical superiority, which is here 'calculation cannot reach it.' Although the sūtra's merit seems small, because its nature is limitless, its number is also limitless, which cannot be reached by that merit of charity, which is a dharma of limited number. Second is power superiority, which other editions term a 'kalā portion.' Like a single hair split into a hundred parts, one part is called a kalā, explained in meaning as power; because the small power and influence of uncontaminated merit is not something that the power of contaminated wholesome [action] can reach. Third is incomparability superiority, which other editions term 'number cannot reach,' because the merit of retaining the sūtra cannot be compared at all to the category of the merit of charity, just as noble and base persons are not counted together. Fourth is causal superiority, which other editions call 'upaniṣad,' translated here as 'cause.' Citing the cause encompasses the fruit; the merit of charity incurs suffering, so cause and fruit are both inferior, whereas although the sūtra's cause seems small, its merit accomplishes the buddha fruit, so cause and fruit are superior. Because of these four superiorities, metaphor cannot reach it. Hence the treatise verse says: