妙法蓮華經玄義 2.40

2.40

Furthermore, the hundred realms and thousand dharmas are exceedingly numerous, crisscrossing and interweaving; we summarize them with verses from sūtras and treatises to make them easy to understand. A verse from the Madhyamakaśāstra states: "Dharmas that arise from causes and conditions, / I declare to be identical with emptiness; / It is also called conventional designation, / And is also the meaning of the middle way." The marks and natures of the six destinies are precisely dharmas arisen from causes and conditions. The marks and natures of the two vehicles and the bodhisattvas of the shared teaching are what "I declare to be identical with emptiness." The marks and natures of the bodhisattvas of the distinctive teaching of the six perfections are what "is also called conventional designation." The marks and natures of the Buddha realm are what "is also the meaning of the middle way." Although the summary is brief, it subsumes the vast array preceding it, and the meaning can thus be seen (and so forth). Furthermore, a verse from the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra states: "All conditioned things are impermanent, / These are dharmas of arising and ceasing; / When arising and ceasing have ceased, / Extinction into tranquility is bliss." The marks and natures of the six destinies are precisely all conditioned things. The marks and natures of the two vehicles and the shared teaching are impermanence. The marks and natures of the bodhisattvas of the distinctive teaching are the cessation of arising and ceasing. The marks and natures of the Buddha realm are extinction into tranquility as bliss. Furthermore, when arising and ceasing have ceased, extinction into tranquility being bliss belongs to the marks and natures of the distinctive teaching. Finding tranquility within the very arising and ceasing, without awaiting their cessation before it is called bliss—this constitutes the marks and natures of the Buddha realm of the perfect teaching (and so forth). Furthermore, the common precept verse of the seven buddhas states: "Do not commit any evil, / Practice all goods, / Purify one's own mind: / This is the teaching of all buddhas." The marks and natures of the four destinies are precisely all evils. The marks and natures of humans and devas are all goods. Purifying one's own mind includes purifying the mind through analytical reduction of forms, which is the marks and natures of the two vehicles; purifying the mind by entering the provisional, which is the marks and natures of the bodhisattvas; and purifying the mind by entering the middle, which is the marks and natures of the Buddha realm (and so forth). If one can understand the ten marks and natures and harmonize them with the various sūtras, treatises, and vinayas, one will thoroughly penetrate the tripiṭaka, shared, and distinctive teachings, and know all dharmas without obstruction. The extensive explanation of the marks of the dharmas of sentient beings is concluded.