妙法蓮華經玄義 3.90

3.90

Regarding intermediate wisdom: one contemplates that feeling arises from contact, and so on up to formations arising from ignorance. Ignorance is merely a single thought of a deluded mind; the mind has no physical form, but only a name. Seeking the name internally, externally, or in between, it cannot be found. This name does not abide, nor does it not abide. It is like an illusion or transformation, falsely deceiving the eyes. The substance and characteristics of ignorance originally do not exist; it is born through the combination of causes and conditions from false thinking. Because it is nonexistent, it is provisionally named 'ignorance.' Produced by improper thinking and mental formations, because one does not comprehend that ignorance is like an illusion or transformation, one gives rise to wholesome and unwholesome thinking, which results in wholesome and unwholesome formations, and one receives wholesome and unwholesome name-and-form, contact, and feeling. Now, comprehending that ignorance is like an illusion, the formations are also like a transformation. Consciousness, name-and-form, and so on born from illusion are all like an illusion. Craving, grasping, becoming, and birth revolve in the three times, shifting and transforming as illusions, entirely without reality. A person of wisdom should not give rise to attachment or aversion within them. Since ignorance is unattainable, ignorance is not born; not being born, it is not extinguished. Formations up to old age and death are also unborn and unextinguished. Being unborn, they are not new; being unextinguished, they are not old. Not being old, there is no old to be finished; not being new, there is no new to be created. Having no new, the bondage of the seed is severed; having no old, the bondage of the fruit is severed. This is called contemplating the twelvefold conditioned co-arising with intermediate wisdom, attaining pratyekabuddha bodhi.