大乘起信論略述 1.3

1.3

When the radiance of the ultimate awakening was hidden, rival schools arose like peaks. Without selection and exposition, the true Dharma would have become corrupted. Therefore, the great being Aśvaghoṣa elucidated the ultimate truth. He embraced all treatises and integrated the many sūtras, shattering the two extremes and harmonizing with the Middle Way, composing this orthodox treatise to encourage future [generations]. Its blessings moisten [as many beings as the] sands of the Gaṅgā, and its renown flows throughout the dharmadhātu. Displaying and exalting the doctrinal principles, it unifies the true fish-trap [of teachings]; it serves as the foundational source for students and acts as a guiding mirror for practitioners of the Way. Therefore, former worthies and eminent masters have expounded upon it in great numbers. The formats of their comprehensive and condensed works differ from one another, and their paths of judging right and wrong are at times divergent; when approaching the text and looking down into its principles, merits and shortcomings mingle. Now there was the Śramaṇa Dankuang of Jiankang, who was fond of learning in his youth and attained virtue as he matured. Wonderfully adept in composition and skilled in clear phrasing, he had previously composed a comprehensive commentary upon which later students relied. It encompassed both phenomenal reality and noumenon, embracing both the heterodox and the orthodox; there was no clinging that it did not rectify, and no doubt that it did not completely dispel. Fearing that beginners, gazing up at the towering cliff, might draw back, or looking out at the vast sea, might lose their way, he subsequently investigated its ultimate intent and produced this brief exposition. It may be said that he traced its source and knew its streams, cut its trunk and obtained its branches. As for opening up the title and comprehensively discussing the doctrinal canon, broadly investigating divergent views, thoroughly unfolding doctrinal gates, citing sūtras to establish proof, and harmonizing the treatise's core destination—with principles and metaphors fully presented, and questions and answers resolving doubts—these are abbreviated without being fully elucidated [here], being fully set forth in the comprehensive commentary. Those who delight in broad learning may investigate and examine it there; here, he merely wished to point out and articulate the essential outline. Chengyi, lacking talent, rejoices to receive these remaining discourses, setting forth the profound intent to show it to future [generations], hoping that the Dharma mirror will be suspended high and that the true breeze will never falter.