英語訳
## Saisho Mondōshō (Questions and Answers on the Suvarṇaprabhāsa-sūtra), Volume 1: Table of Contents
[Editorial note] Each volume has no cover for the internal title; the external title reads "Saisho Mondōshō." Therefore, I have here privately supplied the internal title, following the same practice below.
### Volume One
[Editorial note] Each volume opens with the volume number and a table of contents. These were probably added later. The same practice is followed below.
- Question: Regarding the particular (別) arising-cause (*hetupratyaya*), how does the commentator (Zichou Dashi) explain it? (Argued from both sides)
- Question: How is the Second Samādhi-fulfillment to be explained?
- Question: Regarding the benefit of Attaining the Pure Dharma Eye (*dharma-cakṣus-viśuddhi*): does this belong to the Mahāyāna or Hīnayāna category of benefits? (Argued from both sides)
- Question: On the presence or absence of the Sanskrit form of the *dhāraṇī* syllables.
- Question: On what translational basis did Paramārtha (Zhendi Sanzang) establish the three-part structure of this sutra?
- Question: According to Paramārtha, the Circulation (*liútōng*) section contains two chapters. What are they?
- Question: Was this sutra expounded prior to the Lotus Sutra?
- Question: Regarding the classification of this sutra under the Third Period: how does the commentator explain this?
- Question: On the matter of "one time, one assembly."
- Question: Does the *Suvarṇaprabhāsa-sūtra* include miraculous signs such as the emission of light?
- Question: Is the Fragrant-Elephant Powerful King (*Gandhasthāman-rāja*) identical with the Garuḍa King?
- Question: Is the Pure Land of the Wondrous Banner Chamber (*Myōdōshitsu*) a product of Śākyamuni's supernatural power?
- Question: Among the assembly of yakṣas, does Vaiśravaṇa serve as the chief?
---
- Question: The scripture says, "I am always on Vulture Peak, proclaiming this sutra" (etc.). Among the Three Bodies, which body is it that teaches?
- Question: The sutra contains the phrase "the brahmin-lineage Kauṇḍinya" (etc.). It is said that this brahmin refers to the Tenth of the Ten Transferences (*daśa-pariṇāmanā*). How is this explained?
---
## Saisho Mondōshō, Volume One
[Editorial note] The base manuscript has no internal title for each volume. I have supplied it here, and follow the same practice below.
### Volume One
**Question:** Regarding the arising-cause of the present sutra, and specifically the particular arising-cause: how does Zichou Dashi (Master of Zizhou, i.e., Kuiji/Jizang) explain it?
**Response:** The commentary (疏) states: "Particular means being restricted to this teaching" (etc.). With regard to this, looking at the six particular arising-causes listed below, one finds: "removing and liberating [beings from] unwholesome causes and effects, and enabling the attainment of the blissful fruits of humans and gods." This principle is found in all Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna teachings alike. How then can it be restricted to the present sutra?
**Question:** Regarding the particular arising-cause of the present sutra: how does Zichou Dashi explain it?
**Response:** The particular arising-cause is restricted exclusively to this sutra. That is to say, it refers to: the Chapter on the Lifespan of the Tathāgata (*Tathāgatāyuḥpramāṇa*), the merits of the Three Bodies, and the Chapter on Eliminating Karmic Obstructions. Regarding this: the teaching of phenomenal and noumenal repentance (*shīlǐ chànhuǐ*) that causes the elimination of karmic obstructions derives from the *Guanpuxian Bodhisattva Xingfa Jing* (Sutra of Meditation on Samantabhadra), while the Tathāgata's lifespan and the merits of the Three Bodies derive from the Lifespan Chapter of the Lotus Sutra. How then can such a determination be made?
**Question:** Regarding the division of the seven fulfillments (*saptasampat*) into the General Preface (*tōnjō*) and the Specific Preface (*betsujō*): how is the Second, the Samādhi-fulfillment, to be determined?
**Response:** The First (Sequence-fulfillment) and the Third (Assembly-fulfillment) are called the General Preface, and are also called the Attestation Preface (*shōshinjo*). The remaining are the Specific Preface (etc.). With regard to this: considering the General and Specific Prefaces — what is common to other sutras is called the General Preface, and what is restricted to this sutra is called the Specific Preface. However, in other sutras such as the Lotus Sutra and the Benevolent King Sutra (*Renwang Jing*), there are also accounts of entering into meditation. These ought most properly to be called the General Preface. Why then are they called the Specific Preface? Moreover, the Third, the Assembly-fulfillment, is already the General Preface. Why should the Second be otherwise? Following from this, do not the Chinese masters judge that from "Thus have I heard" to "supremely wondrous Dharma" constitutes the General Preface, and from "At that time, the Bhagavān" onward constitutes the Specific Preface?
The meaning of this sutra is that within the passage "Thus have I heard... supremely wondrous Dharma," the Samādhi-fulfillment is present. This is why such a difficulty is raised.
**My view:** A certain commentary excerpts the following: the entry into meditation in the Lotus Sutra, the Benevolent King Sutra, and others is partial and not comprehensive. Therefore, they are called the Specific Preface. (etc.)
Furthermore, it is said: The commentary, in clarifying the particular arising-cause, presents six reasons. (1) It clarifies the undefiled fruit (*anāsrava-phala*) of Bodhi and Nirvāṇa. (2) It clarifies the removal of unwholesome causes. (3) It liberates [beings] from unwholesome retributions. (4) It enables the cultivation of the undefiled causes of Bodhi and Nirvāṇa. (5) It enables the cultivation of defiled wholesome causes. (6) It enables the attainment of the blissful fruit of humans and gods. (etc.) Other sutras do not fully clarify all six of these causes. Therefore, it is restricted to the present sutra and called the particular arising-cause.
Furthermore, a doubt is raised: The commentary explains the sutra text such that from "Thus have I heard" to "supremely wondrous Dharma" constitutes the General Preface, and from "At that time, the Bhagavān" onward is judged to be the Introductory Preface (*hakkijo*). Does this explanation not treat the Samādhi-fulfillment as part of the General Preface?
**My view:** This explanation is truly difficult to reconcile. However, since the Samādhi-fulfillment lies between the Sequence-fulfillment and the Assembly-fulfillment, it is provisionally judged in this way by following [the logic of] what comes before and after.
**Further inquiry:** Why is the Samādhi-fulfillment placed before the Assembly-fulfillment? Since both the Sequence-fulfillment and the Assembly-fulfillment are General Preface, they should equally appear first.
**My reconciliation:** This matter is addressed in a question-and-answer section in the commentary. The commentary answers it: "Because both physical abiding and mental abiding are equally called 'abiding.'"
---
Furthermore, because of two meanings, they are clarified together in one place. (etc.) However, the meaning of the text is extremely obscure, and even scholars of former ages found it troublesome. For a later student, it is all the more difficult to comprehend. Tentatively, this unworthy monk proposes: the Sequence-fulfillment clarifies the place of dwelling, and is therefore "physical abiding." The Samādhi [entry] refers to the place of the mind's abiding. Therefore, they are shown in connection with each other. Next, "because of two meanings, clarified in one place" means: by calling the place of dwelling the "mind's abiding," while also encompassing samādhi, and by setting forth the "physical abiding," [the text] draws out the mind's abiding. Therefore, both have two meanings, and thus they are clarified together in one place.
[Editorial note: The character 擧 (*raise/set forth*) likely belongs after 三昧; and below 出, the three characters 心所住 (*the mind's place of abiding*) are probably missing.]
**Question:** In the commentary, where the benefits of the present sutra are clarified and the benefit of the Pure Dharma Eye is mentioned — does this belong to the Mahāyāna or Hīnayāna category of benefits?
**Response:** The commentary contains two interpretations; the latter is judged superior, and the interpretation that it is a Hīnayāna benefit is held to be superior. (etc.) With regard to this: the present sutra is a teaching of the Middle Way and of definitive meaning (*nītārtha*). The benefits listed must certainly belong to the Mahāyāna category. What grounds exist for calling it a Hīnayāna benefit? Moreover, the Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra (*Zhuangyan Lun*) speaks of it as a Mahāyāna benefit. (etc.) Judging by analogy, the benefits of the present sutra should belong to the Mahāyāna category. How then should this be understood?
**My view:** Upon consulting the sutra text and examining the benefits obtained, those described as Mahāyāna benefits include "arousing the mind of supreme Bodhi and obtaining the prediction (*vyākaraṇa*) of Anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi." In the Chapter on Fulfilling Vows through Emptiness (*Kūmangon-hin*), besides the benefit of the Unborn Dharma Tolerance (*anutpattikadharmakṣānti*), the benefit of the Pure Dharma Eye is mentioned — from which we know it is not a Mahāyāna benefit. Likewise, consulting the teachings of the Lotus Sutra (*Myōhō*), the Mahāyāna benefits described include "attaining supreme Bodhi, attaining the Unborn Tolerance, and attaining the gift of dhāraṇī." These are each distinct from the others, as can be seen. Based on this, [I conjecture that] Zichou [Dashi] drew upon the statement in the *Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra* (*Yuqielun*) which describes the benefits of the first fruit [of stream-entry] and formed his high assessment from this. The present sutra is a teaching for all vehicles in general; its doctrines are not restricted solely to Mahāyāna benefits. However, as for the statement in the *Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra*: "removing dust and being free from defilement" refers to the meaning of severing delusions, while "attaining the Pure Dharma Eye" is the designation for the realization of fruit. The text presents the idea that this meaning exists at the first bhūmi of the Mahāyāna, and thus cites this explanation based on the perspective of the particular meaning (*betsugīmon*). Following this intention, the *Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra* appears to include the explanation of the Pure Dharma Eye benefit of the Ten Stages. This passage of the treatise should be consulted.
**Objection:** [Whether there should be more here is uncertain, but the text is left as in the original.]
[Marginal note: This is an argument concerning the *Fahua Jing Lun* (Treatise on the Lotus Sutra). It was composed by Engen (Yuanxuan).]
**Question:** The sutra text says, "Among all the dharmas, he attained the Pure Dharma Eye" (etc.). Was this benefit of the Pure Dharma Eye obtained in the Pure Land? From both sides: if obtained in the Pure Land, the *Xuanzan* (*Commentary of Profound Praises*) explains it as a Hīnayāna benefit, but Hīnayāna practitioners do not obtain benefits in the Pure Land. How can it be said to be so? Alternatively, if obtained in the defiled land (*edo*): according to the view of our own school (*jishū*), the land described in the chapters from the Yakuō (Medicine King) chapter onward is entirely a Pure Land. Thus it follows that [the benefit] was obtained in the Pure Land. Moreover, if this is so, would it not mean failing to accord with the views of other schools?
**Question:** In the commentary on the present sutra, the benefit of the Pure Dharma Eye is set forth. Is this benefit restricted to the Hīnayāna first fruit of stream-entry? From both sides: if restricted to the first fruit, [one would say that] by realizing the true principle of dharma-nature and obtaining the undefiled eye of wisdom, one is said to have attained the Pure Dharma Eye. Yet this same meaning exists in later [fruits — second, third, and fourth]. How can it be said to be restricted to the first fruit? Following from this, the *Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra* describes it as common to all four fruits, thereby showing that it applies through the subsequent fruits as well. Other treatise-explanations are likewise to this effect. But if so, the present commentary and the *Xuanzan* restrict it to the first fruit. How is this? Someone says: "As for the Pure Dharma Eye benefit, [it is at the point when] one first severs the discriminative defilements (*vikalpa-kleśa*) that one is said to obtain [the Pure Dharma Eye]…"