No. 468-A
No. 468-A
朕惟佛道，弘深精密，神妙感通。以慈悲利物，以智慧覺人。超萬有而獨尊，從曠劫而不壞。先天地而不見其始，後天地而不見其終。觀之金剛般若波羅蜜經，蓋可見矣。是經也，發三乘之奧旨，啟萬法之元微。論不空之空，見無相之相。指明虗妄，即夢幻泡影而可知；推極根原，於我人眾壽而可見。誠諸佛傳心之秘，大乘闡道之宗，而羣生明心見性之機括也。夫一心之源，本自清淨。心隨境轉，妄念即生。如太虗起雲，輒成障翳；如寶鏡蒙塵，隨韜光彩。由此逐緣而墮幻，安能返妄以歸真。惟如來以無上正等正覺，發慈悲至願，閔凡世之沉迷，念眾生之冥昧，為說此經，大開方便。俾解黏而釋縛，咸滌垢以離塵。出生死途，登菩提岸。轉癡迷為智慧，去昏暗即光明。是經之功德，廣矣大矣。雖然，法由心得，非經無以寓夫法；經以人傳，非言無以著夫經。爰自唐宋以來，註釋是經者，無慮數十百家。雖眾說悉加於剖析，而羣言莫克於折衷。朕夙欽大覺，仰慕真如。間閱諸編，選其至精至要，經旨弗違者，重加纂輯。特命鋟梓，用廣流傳。俾真言洞徹，祕義昭融。見之者如仰日月於中天，悟之者若探寶珠於滄海。豈不快哉，豈不偉哉。嗚呼，善人良士，果能勤誠修習，虔禮受持，緣經以求法，因法以悟覺，即得滅無量罪愆，即得獲最勝福田。證果人天，永臻快樂。功德所及，奚有涯涘哉。謹書為序，以俟將來。
I consider the Buddha's path to be vast, profound, subtle, and wondrous—a path of spiritual resonance and connection. It uses compassion to benefit all beings and wisdom to awaken people. It transcends all existence and stands alone in honor, enduring through countless eons without decay. It existed before heaven and earth, yet its beginning cannot be seen; it will remain after heaven and earth, yet its end cannot be found. One can perceive this by contemplating the *Diamond Sutra*.
This sutra reveals the profound essence of the Three Vehicles and unveils the fundamental subtleties of all dharmas. It discusses the emptiness that is not empty and reveals the form that is without form. It points directly to illusion, showing it to be like a dream, a phantom, a bubble, or a shadow. It traces back to the ultimate source, making it visible within the notions of self, person, sentient being, and life span. Truly, this is the secret of mind-transmission of all Buddhas, the guiding principle of the Mahayana's exposition of the path, and the key mechanism for all beings to illuminate their minds and see their true nature.
The source of the one mind is originally pure and clear. When the mind follows circumstances, false thoughts arise. It is like clouds forming in the vast sky, immediately creating obscuration; like a precious mirror gathering dust, gradually dimming its radiance. Chasing after conditions in this way, one falls into illusion—how then can one return from falsity to truth?
Only the Tathagata, with his unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment, arising from his compassionate and supreme vow, took pity on the world's delusions and was mindful of beings' darkness. For their sake, he taught this sutra, widely opening the gate of skillful means. It enables them to dissolve attachments and release bonds, to wash away defilements and leave the dust behind. They emerge from the path of birth and death and ascend the shore of enlightenment. It transforms ignorance into wisdom and dispels darkness with light. The merit and virtue of this sutra are vast and great indeed.
Nevertheless, the Dharma is realized through the mind, yet without the sutra, there would be no vessel to convey the Dharma. The sutra is transmitted through people, yet without words, the sutra could not be made manifest. Since the Tang and Song dynasties, those who have commented on this sutra number no less than several tens or hundreds. Although various explanations have all been analyzed, none of the multitude of words has managed to harmonize them into a balanced synthesis.
I have long revered the Great Awakening and admired the True Thusness. In my spare time, I perused various editions and selected the most essential and crucial points—those not contrary to the sutra's intent—and compiled them anew. I have specially ordered them carved for printing to facilitate widespread circulation. This will allow the true words to be thoroughly understood and the secret meanings to shine forth clearly. For those who see it, it will be like beholding the sun and moon in the mid-heavens; for those who awaken through it, it will be like retrieving a precious pearl from the vast ocean. Is this not joyful? Is this not magnificent?
Alas! If virtuous people of good will can diligently, sincerely cultivate and practice, devoutly revere, receive, and uphold it—seeking the Dharma through the sutra and awakening to enlightenment through the Dharma—they will immediately eradicate immeasurable offenses and immediately obtain the most supreme field of blessings. They will bear witness to the fruit among humans and devas, eternally reaching happiness. The extent of the merit and virtue thus reached—how could it have any limit?
I respectfully write this as a preface, awaiting the future.
明永樂癸卯四月八日序
Preface, written on the Eighth Day of the Fourth Month in the Guimao Year of the Yongle Reign.