妙法蓮華經玄義 8.22

8.22

Fourth, clarifying jing by passing through dharmas: If jing is the standard translation, what dharma is jing? In the past, three kinds were used: First, using sound as jing: as when the Buddha was in the world, his golden mouth expounded, and there was only the explanatory discourse of sound; the listeners attained the Way, therefore sound was used as jing. The Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā says: "Heard from a good friend." Second, using form as jing: while the Buddha was in the world, sound could be used as jing; now that the Buddha has departed the world, it is transmitted and upheld by paper and ink, so form should be used as jing. The Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā says: "Heard from the sūtra scrolls." Third, using mental objects (dharmas) as jing: inwardly reflecting for oneself, the mind accords with the Dharma, not depending on another's instruction, nor on paper and ink; merely through the mind's awakening, dharma itself is jing. Thus it says: "Those who cultivate my Dharma know it for themselves through realization (and so on)." The three sense objects as jing are applied to this land. For those whose ear consciousness is sharp, who are able to discern and attain awakening upon the sense object of sound, sound is their jing, but not jing for the others. For those whose mental consciousness is sharp, who can investigate within the mind, reflect, and make decisions, dharmas are their jing, but not jing for the others. For those whose eye consciousness is sharp, who grasp the principle through the exposition of written words, form is their jing, but not jing for the others. This realm uses only these three sense objects. The remaining three consciousnesses are dull: if the nose smells paper and ink, it knows nothing; if the body touches a sūtra scroll, it also cannot understand; if the tongue eats the written characters, how could it distinguish right from wrong? In other lands, all six sense objects are used, or a single sense object is used exclusively. As the Vimalakīrti-nirdeśa states: "Giving a single meal to all... one who is equal with respect to food is also equal with respect to dharmas; one who is equal with respect to dharmas is also equal with respect to food." This is exclusively using the object of the tongue faculty as jing. In some lands, touching heavenly garments with the body brings attainment of the Way: this is exclusively using touch as jing. In some, seeing the Buddha's radiance brings attainment of the Way: this is exclusively using form as jing. In some, in extinction and quiescence without words, contemplating the mind brings attainment of the Way: this is exclusively using the mind as jing. As in the Land of Manifold Fragrances, where fragrance is used for the Buddha's work: this is exclusively using fragrance as jing. In other lands, the six faculties and consciousnesses are sharp, so the six sense objects can serve as jing. In this land, the three faculties and consciousnesses are dull; the nose does not equal that of a donkey, dog, or deer: how could it attain penetration through fragrance, flavor, touch, and so forth?