Chandrakirti's Introduction to the Middle Way《入中論》

《入中論》（梵文: Madhyamakāvatāra śāstra)，由月稱論師所著中觀應成派名著，以《華嚴經》中十地為骨架，宣揚龍樹菩薩等中觀師之空義，以破除唯識師所認為阿賴耶識具有的唯識三性。被藏傳佛教選入僧人必讀的五部大論之一。 《入中論》之組織，依於《華嚴經》〈十地品〉。龍樹菩薩著有《十住毗婆沙論》以釋經，此土所譯，只有前二地之文。空宗著述，多釋般若深見，釋般若廣行甚少。龍樹菩薩所造，只有《集經論》、《法界讚》、《寶鬘論》，指示修行次第，不但談空。本論於空宗正見，及修行次第，甚深廣大二種教門，均有解釋。自初地乃至佛地，依次排列。每一地中，敘菩薩修行成就之功德已，復配以初發心修行法，指學者以修行次第。二空之理，則在般若度中廣釋。云何學《中論》﹖學般若者，應具清淨信心，則雖聞四句一偈，亦有無量功德，故應先培養信心。生信之法，常觀三界輪迴，流轉不息，無纖毫之樂，可以貪著。次觀眾生，若知求出離，發菩提心，修菩薩行，無上佛果，亦終有成就之一日。若醉生夢死，作生死業，則一期報盡，隨業受生，或往人天，或墮惡趣，自無主宰。應及此未至臨命終時，自有智慧、能力、自在，將此生死大事，作一解決。勿待臨時，手忙足亂，一墮三塗，欲求正法，不可得矣。 次當思惟有暇圓滿人身難得，佛法難聞。五濁惡世聞大乘法，尤為希有。《般若經》云︰學般若者，從生至生，受用無盡。生生得生有大般若之處，得遇善知識為說般若法門，具足一切學般若之增上緣，自然喜近善士，樂聞正法，樂修菩薩行。故今聞此法者應生希有心，常觀三業是否順因果、如佛法，修五戒十善，則不失人天福報，至少獲得臨命終時，無有憂悔。更上者，以此功德，回向往生極樂、兜率，則為淨土勝因。再上者，生生常值佛法，為大菩薩之所攝受，最後必蒙佛授記，成佛度生。最上者，若有大福德一切圓滿，依金剛乘，即身成佛，是又殊勝中之殊勝者矣。然末世福德圓滿之根器難得，則以出離心菩提心，如法修行甚深慧廣大行，生生常為大菩薩所攝受，乃至究竟成佛，是聽《入中論》者應有之宗趣也。若以如是心學《中論》，則宗喀巴大師、月稱論師之功德，亦許後人修成也。 Fazun's introduction to the "Organization of the Text" from his Commentary on Madhyamakāvatāra The structure of Madhyamakāvatāra follows the Ten Bhūmis (Grounds) chapter of the Avatamsaka Sutra. Nāgārjuna wrote the Daśabhūmika-vibhāṣā-śāstra to explain the sutra, but only the commentary on the first two grounds was translated into Chinese. Most Madhyamaka texts explain the profound view of Prajñāpāramitā, with relatively few explaining its extensive practice. Among Nāgārjuna's works, only the Sūtrasamuccaya, Dharmadhātustava, and Ratnāvalī describe the stages of practice, rather than discussing emptiness alone. This treatise explains both the correct view of the Madhyamaka school and the stages of practice, covering both the profound and vast aspects of the teachings. It arranges the progression from the first ground up to Buddhahood. For each ground, after describing the accomplishments and merits of the bodhisattva, it provides instruction for beginners on the methods of practice, showing practitioners the proper sequence.