第九、釋論題目者，然此三論得名不同，或就所顯為名，如《中觀論》以中道是所顯故；或約所遣及所託為目，如此論以十二門法為所遣託故；或約數為名，如《百論》以論有百偈故。此中十二者，有人解云：此是隨語中一大數也。如一日十二時，一年十二月，又表十二入、十二緣等。此恐不然。今釋十二有三義：一、約所遣，謂所執萬端別祛難盡，故今總攝十二統收，無別表也。二、約所託，謂津悟多方數窮八萬，要略所仗十二為號，如下文云「當以十二門入於空義」，此是入真空之勝方便也。三、合此二義，謂非遣執無以入空，遣即託也；非入空無以遣執，託即遣也。門者亦有三義：一、是收攝義，謂此十二以一一統收諸餘所遣無量諸法，故以為門，如章門等。二、是開示義，謂於此十二開示顯現真空理故，以此為門，如開方便門示真實相等。三是通入義，謂令依此游履通入彼真空故。此中十二即門，帶數釋也。亦有本作「觀十二門」，觀者，鑒照義。且鑒照有二：一、照俗，謂觀照此十二類法；二、觀真，謂即於此十二法上破相開示，照達真空令心無寄，故云觀也。此中據後義說，觀則是智，十二門是境，境智合目，如此境智是所詮義。論者，是能詮教，謂以理窮覈使諸相永盡，故云論也。又以巧辯徵責，令執心無寄，亦云論也。「觀因緣門」者，當別目，謂親辨法體為因，疏而助發為緣，推求無性為觀，開悟真空曰門。十二之初，故云「第一」(「觀因緣門第一」六字，古本連在論題之下，故於此處釋之)。「龍樹菩薩造」者，梵語名作那伽阿順那。那伽，此云龍。阿順那者，羅什翻為樹，慈恩三藏翻為猛，並非敵對正翻。所以知者，近問大原三藏云：「西國俗盡說，前代有猛壯之人，名阿順那。翻為猛者，但指彼人，非正譯其名。又西國有一色樹，亦名阿順那，此菩薩在樹下生，因名阿順那。是故翻為樹者，亦指彼樹，非正翻名。阿順那雖俱無正翻，就義指事樹得人失，以於樹下而生龍宮悟道，故云龍樹。」菩薩者，若具應云菩提薩埵。諸論通釋總有三義：一菩提，此云覺，則所求也。薩埵，此云生，則所度也。此二俱是所緣境，則從境為名，如白骨觀等。二、菩提同前是所求境，薩埵是能求行者，則能所合目境智為名。三、薩埵，此云勇猛，謂於大菩提勇猛求故。以菩下略提、薩下略埵，故云菩薩也。造者，是製作也。
**9. Explanation of the Treatise's Title**
Now, these three treatises have different names. Some are named after what they reveal, like the *Madhyamaka Shastra*, because the Middle Way is what it reveals. Some are named after what they refute and rely upon, like this treatise, because it uses the Twelve Gateways to refute attachments. Some are named after a number, like the *Hundred Verse Treatise*, because it contains a hundred verses.
As for "Twelve," some explain it as a general large number in our language. For example, a day has twelve hours, a year has twelve months, and it also represents the twelve sense bases, the twelve links of dependent origination, and so on. This interpretation is probably incorrect.
My explanation of "Twelve" has three meanings:
1. **Regarding What is Refuted:** The attachments we hold are countless and hard to eliminate individually. Therefore, we summarize them here into twelve categories to encompass them all. There is no special symbolic meaning. 2. **Regarding What is Relied Upon:** The paths to insight are numerous, reaching eighty thousand. To provide an essential summary, we use the "Twelve" as a title. As the text later says, "One should enter the meaning of Emptiness through the Twelve Gateways." This is an excellent expedient for entering the True Emptiness. 3. **Combining Both Meanings:** Without refuting attachments, one cannot enter Emptiness. The refutation *is* the reliance. Without entering Emptiness, one cannot refute attachments. The reliance *is* the refutation.
The term "Gateway" also has three meanings:
1. **Gathering:** Each of these twelve categories gathers and encompasses all remaining attachments and countless phenomena, hence "gateway," like a chapter heading. 2. **Revealing:** Through these twelve, the principle of True Emptiness is revealed and made manifest. Hence "gateway," like opening an expedient door to show the ultimate reality. 3. **Entering:** It allows one to follow this path to enter that True Emptiness.
Thus, "Twelve-Gateway" is a *dvigu* compound (a numeral compound). A version also exists with "Contemplation" added: *Contemplation of the Twelve Gateways*. "Contemplation" means clear observation. This clear observation has two aspects:
1. **Observing the Conventional:** Contemplating these twelve types of phenomena. 2. **Contemplating the Ultimate:** On these very twelve phenomena, breaking through their appearances, revealing them, and through clear contemplation, reaching Emptiness, so the mind has nothing to cling to. This is what "contemplation" means here.
According to this latter meaning, "Contemplation" is wisdom, and the "Twelve Gateways" is the object. The text combines the object and wisdom. This object-wisdom is the meaning being taught.
"Treatise" refers to the teaching that conveys this meaning. It investigates principles thoroughly, causing all characteristics to vanish completely, hence "treatise." It also uses skillful debate and questioning to cause clinging minds to have nothing to grasp, hence "treatise."
"Gateway of Contemplating Causal Conditions" is the specific title of the first chapter. "Causes" are the main factors that directly create a phenomenon. "Conditions" are the auxiliary factors that support it. "Contemplating" means investigating their lack of inherent nature. "Gateway" means awakening to Emptiness. As it is the first of the twelve, it is called "First."(The phrase "Gateway of Contemplating Causal Conditions, The First" was attached to the title of the treatise in ancient texts, so it is explained here.)
**Composed by Bodhisattva Nāgārjuna:** In Sanskrit, he is called *Nāgārjuna*. *Nāga* means "Dragon" (nāga). *Arjuna* was translated by Kumārajīva as "Tree" (arjuna), and by Master Xuanzang as "Fierce" (arjuna). Neither is an accurate, direct translation. We know this because I recently asked a great scholar-monk from India: "In the Western lands, people say a person from a bygone age was called Arjuna, meaning 'fierce.' The translation 'Fierce' points to that person's quality; it's not the correct translation of his name. Also, in the Western lands, there is a tree called Arjuna. This Bodhisattva was born under such a tree, so he was named Arjuna. Therefore, translating it as 'Tree' also points to that tree, not his correct name." While neither translation is perfect, translating it as "Tree" is slightly better than "Fierce" because it refers to the fact that he was born under an Arjuna tree and attained enlightenment in the Nāga realm. Hence, the name "Nāgārjuna."
"Bodhisattva" (should be fully *Bodhisattva*): Various treatises generally explain it in three ways:
1. *Bodhi* means "awakening," which is the goal. *Sattva* means "sentient being," which is the object of salvation. Both are the objects of focus. Thus, the name is taken from the object, like the "Meditation on a Skeleton." 2. *Bodhi* is the same as before, the goal sought. *Sattva* is the practitioner who seeks it. This combines the seeker and the sought, the subject and object, for the name. 3. *Sattva* means "courageous" or "heroic," referring to one who energetically seeks great awakening.
By contracting *Bodhi* (dropping *hi*) and *Sattva* (dropping *tva*), we get "Bodhisattva."
"Composed" means authored.