妙法蓮華經玄義 3.5

3.5

Next, using the inconceivable twelve links of dependent origination to merge with the ten suchnesses of the four noble ones: When the link of ignorance is transformed, it becomes clarity; clarity is the revealing cause, constituting the noble one's such nature. When the link of bad formations is transformed, it becomes good formations; good formations are the conditioning cause, constituting the noble one's such characteristic. When the path of suffering of consciousness, name-and-form, etc., is transformed, it is the dharma-kāya, constituting the noble one's such substance. When the two links of craving and grasping are transformed, they become the noble one's bodhicitta, which is such power. The link of existence containing fruit is transformed into the practice of the six perfections, which constitutes the noble one's such function and is also transformed into the noble one's such cause. This transformation of the link of existence is of two kinds: the direct path transforms into such cause, and the auxiliary path transforms into the noble one's such condition. The link of old age and death transforms into the eternal abiding of dharma-nature, constituting the noble one's such fruit and retribution (and so forth). Furthermore, to construct it generally: the three dharmas of substance, power, and function are merely affliction, karma, and suffering transformed into the dharma-kāya, bodhicitta, the practice of the six perfections, and so forth. Diligently cultivating these three dharmas forms nature within, forms characteristic without, forms substance by correct thought, forms power by profound and far-reaching vows, forms function by establishing practice, forms cause by drawing forth the fruit, forms condition by mutual assistance, and forms fruit and retribution by definitive manifestation (and so forth). If one were to subdivide the four noble ones finely, there would be differences at every step; here we take the general outline, hence explaining them in common. The sūtra says: "The vow for omniscient wisdom still remains and is not lost." The two vehicles can also be explained in this common way.