△通釋經題
General Explanation of the Title
夫如來果體，其體本然，何假密因？菩薩道用，其用無作，孰資萬行？無因無作，無修無證，無了不了，大小名相，一切不立，此真首楞嚴究竟堅固者也。特以眾生如來，隱於藏心，非密因不顯；眾生菩薩，淪於七趣，非萬行不修。覺皇於是示之以大法，使不迷於小道，而默得乎無外之體；喻之以佛頂，使不滯於相見，而妙極乎無上之致。指如來密因，使明本妙之心，知三世諸佛，皆依此為初因；明修證了義，使悟究竟之法，知一切聖人，皆依此而證果。乃至具足菩薩清淨萬行，一切事法，無不究竟，至於實相，堅固不壞，故名大佛頂如來密因修證了義諸菩薩萬行。首楞嚴經，始於徵心辯見，終於破陰褫魔，無非健相分別事也。
Now, regarding the essence of the Tathagata's fruition—its original nature is inherently so; why rely on a secret cause? The Bodhisattva path functions effortlessly; why require myriad practices? Without cause, without effort, without cultivation, without realization, without something to be completed or not completed—all terms like "great" and "small," names and forms—are not established. This is truly the ultimate and indestructible Shurangama.
It is only because sentient beings, who are themselves Tathagatas, remain hidden within the matrix of the Tathagata-garbha, that without the secret cause, they cannot manifest. Sentient beings, who are themselves Bodhisattvas, sink into the seven destinies; without myriad practices, they cannot cultivate. Therefore, the Awakened King reveals the Great Dharma, so that beings do not become lost in lesser paths and silently attain the all-encompassing essence. He uses the analogy of the Buddha's summit, so that beings do not get stuck in appearances and views and wonderfully reach the ultimate, unsurpassable state. He points to the Tathagata's secret cause, so that beings may understand the intrinsically wondrous mind, knowing that all Buddhas of the three times rely on this as their initial cause. He clarifies cultivation, realization, and the ultimate meaning, so that beings may awaken to the ultimate Dharma, knowing that all sages rely on this to realize their fruit. He further reveals the complete fulfillment of the Bodhisattva's pure myriad practices, so that all phenomenal activities ultimately reach the ultimate, abide in reality, and remain indestructible. Hence the title: "The Great Buddha’s Summit, the Tathagata’s Secret Cause, the Ultimate Meaning of Cultivation and Realization, and the Myriad Practices of All Bodhisattvas."
The Shurangama Sutra begins with an examination of the mind and discernment of views and concludes with the destruction of the aggregates and the defeat of demons. All of it is the matter of distinguishing things with a robust wisdom.
天如曰：梵語首楞嚴，乃大定之總名也。此翻一切事究竟堅固。古師云：未修此定，一切事法宛爾差殊，為法所縛。既得此定時，山河大地、明暗色空，一切當處寂滅，即是常住心性，故云究竟堅固。
Tian Ru said: The Sanskrit term "Śūraṅgama" is the general name for the Great Samadhi. It is translated as "ultimate, unshakable firmness in all things." An ancient master said: "Before cultivating this samadhi, all phenomena appear distinctly different, and one is bound by them. Once this samadhi is attained, mountains, rivers, the earth, light and darkness, forms and space—everything is instantly still and extinguished. This is the everlasting nature of mind, hence it is called 'ultimate, unshakable firmness.'"