金剛般若經依天親菩薩論贊略釋秦本義記卷上 1.124

1.124

[Sūtra:] "'Subhūti, what do you think? Are all the motes of dust in a three-thousandfold great-thousandfold world-system many?'"
This is the third overall part, superiority due to overcoming defilement. To clarify this meaning, one first distinguishes causes and effects into three kinds: first, cause and effect of giving: the cause is giving and the effect is affliction, because giving through grasping at marks increases affliction; second, cause and effect of world-systems: the cause is the world-system and the effect is motes of dust, because the accumulated marks of the realm disperse into dust; third, cause and effect of upholding the sūtra: the cause is upholding the sūtra and the effect is the dharmakāya, because being able to uphold and explain it realizes the dharmakāya. Now, in this passage, the first two are compared to demonstrate the last one. Yet, when the sūtra adduces all motes of dust, etc., this is the cause and effect of world-systems. These motes of dust are termed material dust; their essence is indeterminate. They only defile the material body and do not defile the dharmakāya; they are not like the afflictions produced by giving, which are called dharma-dust and can defile the pure mind as well as the dharmakāya. Now, taking this indeterminate cause and effect and contrasting it with the defiled cause and effect of giving: the latter does not even equal the cause of indeterminate dust, so how could it compare to the merit of upholding and explaining? Thus we know that while the merit of giving increases existence, relying on the sūtra extinguishes delusion. Now, in explaining this text, it is divided again into two: first, adducing the inferior to show the superior; second, determining that the superior surpasses the inferior. Within the first, there are two: first, question; second, answer. This is the first question. "A three-thousandfold great-thousandfold world-system" adduces its cause. "All the motes of dust" shows its effect. "Are they many?" asks about its quantity. The reason for asking about the amount of these motes of dust is to show that defiled dust surpasses this.