淨名經集解關中疏 1.140

1.140

"At first, beside the Buddha Tree, through power he conquered Māra, / Attained the extinction of the ambrosia, and the path of awakening was accomplished." These two [sets of] eight verses praise the past teaching of the Small Vehicle and the expedient manifestation of the inferior body to benefit beings. The text has four parts: first, two lines clarify the attainment of the path; second, two lines clarify the turning of the Dharma wheel; third, two lines clarify the gaining of benefit; fourth, two lines clarify the equality between enemies and friends. This initial light clarifies conquering Māra and realizing extinction. It refers to the Tathāgata responding to traces in the royal palace, severing affection and leaping over the city wall, experiencing and testing the heterodox paths. Abandoning the heterodox, he sat beneath the tree, vowing to attain bodhi. The palaces of Māra shook: first he expediently [vanquished] sensual desire, next he subdued the hostile adversary. Once the external Māras were scattered, he then realized nirvāṇa. Ambrosia is analytical cessation; the internal Māra of habit-energies of the fetters was thereby forever exhausted. The "Buddha Tree" is bodhi. "At first" means in the beginning.