釋摩訶衍論 7.5

7.5

The treatise says: In this very text there are naturally two gates. What are the two? The first is the gate of general presentation and general explanation; the second is the gate of specific analysis and dispersed explanation; these are named the two. Within the second gate there are naturally three gates. What are the three? The first is the gate of dissecting the three kinds of generating the mind; the second is the gate of raising questions and answers to resolve doubts; the third is the gate of generating treatises from treatises through questions and answers; these are named the three. The characteristics of the explanation can be observed. As for the gate of general presentation and general explanation, it is in order to reveal that within this very gate of distinguishing the characteristics of setting out on the path, there are the ocean of vows, ocean of causal practices, ocean of realized fruits, and ocean of disciples transformed of the immeasurable and boundless Buddhas of the three times; and that all the immeasurable and boundless assemblies of bodhisattvas of the three times, in such and such ways, follow, tread, accord with, and should turn in suchness, entering according to their proper sequence without exceeding number and without passing over stages. Furthermore, it is in order to reveal that, just as for all Buddhas there is no rule of setting out, so all bodhisattvas practice in suchness within that absence of a rule of setting out. As the basic text states: "Regarding 'distinguishing the characteristics of setting out on the path,' it means the path realized by all Buddhas, in the sense that all bodhisattvas generate the mind, practice, and advance toward it." Having explained the gate of general presentation and general explanation, next is explained the gate of specific analysis and dispersed explanation. The three gates here should be carefully contemplated and discerned according to their proper sequence. In the first gate of dissecting the three kinds of generating the mind, there are three kinds, and thus there are naturally three gates. What are the three? The first is the gate of the generation of mind through the completion of faith; the second is the gate of the generation of mind through understanding and practice; the third is the gate of the generation of mind through attainment of realization; these are named the three. As the basic text states: "In brief, the generation of the mind has three kinds. What are the three? The first is the generation of mind through the completion of faith; the second is the generation of mind through understanding and practice; the third is the generation of mind through realization." Within the first gate there are three gates. What are the three? The first is the gate of initiating questions and general presentation; the second is the gate of revealing answers and broad explanations; the third is the gate of raising questions and answers to resolve doubts; these are named the three. The first two gates have two layers and should be carefully observed. In the first gate of initiating questions and general presentation there are four intentions. What are the four? The first is the intention regarding the provisional person, questioning the person capable of cultivating; the second is the intention regarding the marks of practice, questioning the practice cultivated; the third is the intention regarding one's own share, questioning the attainment of completion; the fourth is the intention regarding upward progression, questioning the marks of superior progress; these are named the four. As the basic text states: "As for the generation of mind through the completion of faith, relying on what kind of person and practicing what kind of cultivation is faith completed so that one is able to generate the mind?"