妙法蓮華經玄義 4.54

4.54

The realm of existence among animals is destroyed by using the non-regression samādhi. Animals have no sense of shame and regress from the good paths; this means regression due to evil karma, regression due to views and thoughts, regression due to sands of dust, and regression due to ignorance. To destroy all regression, the bodhisattva cultivates the aforementioned precepts to destroy regression from evil karma; cultivates dhyāna concentration to subdue regression from views and thoughts; cultivates the wisdom of arising and non-arising to destroy regression from views and thoughts; cultivates immeasurable wisdom to destroy regression from sands of dust; and cultivates uncreated wisdom to destroy regression from ignorance. Because views and thoughts are destroyed, non-regression of position is attained, and the samādhi of the real truth is consummated; because evil karma and sands of dust are destroyed, non-regression of practice is attained, and the samādhi of the conventional truth is consummated; and because ignorance is destroyed, non-regression of mindfulness is attained, and the samādhi of the middle way is consummated. In fundamentally cultivating all practices, there are compassionate vows that subtly perfume the dharma realm. If among those animals there are spiritual capacities and conditions that engage their loving-kindness and compassion, by the power of the king samādhi they go to respond to them without stirring from the dharma-nature. Displaying whatever body is appropriate and preaching whatever Dharma is appropriate, they appear as a dragon, an elephant, a francolin, or a great vulture. If there is a capacity for goodness, they respond with the loving-kindness and compassion of precepts and concentration, leading them to escape suffering and attain bliss; if there is a capacity to enter emptiness, they respond with the loving-kindness and compassion of the wisdom of arising and non-arising, leading them to leave existence and attain non-existence, consummating the samādhi of the real truth; if there is a capacity to enter the provisional, they respond with the loving-kindness and compassion of immeasurable wisdom, leading them to avoid emptiness and attain the provisional, consummating the samādhi of the conventional truth; and if there is a capacity to enter the middle, they respond with the loving-kindness and compassion of uncreated wisdom, leading them to leave the extremes and enter the middle, consummating the king samādhi. Since the bodhisattva has already attained non-regression oneself and causes others not to regress, it is called the 'non-regression samādhi.'