釋摩訶衍論 9.7

9.7

Having explained the portal of provisional persons who can cause obstructions, next is explained the portal of revealing the functions that are performed. Within this portal there are two kinds. What are the two? First, general; second, specific. Within the portal of general characteristics, there are two portals. What are the two? First, the portal of the general characteristic of functions performed; second, the portal of the practice of penetrating the antidote. What is the characteristic of the first portal? That is to say, all the evil kinds explained above manifest the appearances of the six destinies to disturb the practitioner's mind. Now an explanation will be made and distinctly set forth. Ghosts and spirits mostly produce the four destinies of the hells, hungry ghosts, animals, and asuras to disturb the practitioner's mind. As the root text says: 'if during sitting [meditation] they manifest forms that cause terror.' Māras mostly produce the heavenly destiny to disturb the practitioner's mind. As the root text says: 'or manifest handsome and beautiful [forms].' Heterodox non-Buddhists mostly produce the human destiny to disturb the practitioner's mind. As the root text says: 'men, women, and so forth.' As for 'and other such appearances,' this refers to identical appearances; that is to say, producing identical environmental and bodily retribution to disturb the practitioner's mind.