淨名經集解關中疏 1.22

1.22

“Defending the Dharma citadel and upholding the true Dharma”: Below, the second section clarifies the specific praise. The text has three parts: first, praise in terms of protecting the Dharma; second, praise in terms of practice; third, praise with regard to the proximate fruition. The first text also has three parts: protecting the Dharma, protecting people, and the concluding explanation. Protecting the Dharma also has two parts; this first part praises the cultivation of causes. Zhao says: “Outwardly acting as a citadel defending the Dharma, inwardly possessing the firmness of upholding it.” Shi says: “The Dharma citadel is the Dharma of the true mark. It is called ‘defending’ because it causes beings to have no deviant views. Furthermore, all sūtra teachings are called Dharma citadels; they protect, uphold, and disseminate them so that they are not destroyed. Those who can uphold the true Dharma are also simultaneously defended.” Rui says: “The true principle is the Dharma, and the written words are the citadel. When the citadel and moat are secure, the interior is unharmed; when the written words are preserved, the principle is not diminished.”