妙法蓮華經文句 1.24

1.24

廣則令智退，略則意不周，我今處中說，令義易明了。因緣亦名感應，眾生無機雖近不見，慈善根力遠而自通，感應道交故，用因緣釋也。夫眾生求脫，此機眾矣；聖人起應，應亦眾矣。此義更廣，處中在何？然《大經》云：「慈善根力有無量門，略則神通，若十方機感，曠若虛空。」今論娑婆國土音聲佛事則甘露門開，依教釋者中說明矣。若應機設教，教有權實、淺深不同，須置指存月、亡迹尋本。故肇師云：「非本無以垂迹，非迹無以顯本。」故用本迹釋也。若尋迹，迹廣徒自疲勞，若尋本，本高高不可極，日夜數他寶，自無半錢分，但觀己心之高廣，扣無窮之聖應，機成致感，逮得己利，故用觀心釋也。

"To speak extensively causes one's wisdom to recede, while to speak too concisely leaves the meaning incomplete. I will now speak from a middle [approach], so that the meaning is easily understood. 'Causality' is also called 'sympathetic resonance'. If sentient beings lack the capacity, then even if [the Buddha is] near, they do not see him; yet through the power of benevolence and roots of goodness, though far away, they spontaneously connect. Because the path of sympathetic resonance intersects, we explain it through causality. In general, when sentient beings seek liberation, these capacities are manifold; when the holy person arises in response, the responses are also manifold. If this meaning is even broader, where does the middle lie? Yet the Great Sūtra [Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra] states: 'The power of benevolence and roots of goodness has immeasurable gates; in brief, there are supernatural penetrations. If the capacities and resonances of the ten directions are considered, they are as vast as empty space.' Now, considering the sonic Buddha-work of the Sahā realm, the gate to the nectar of immortality is opened. When explained in accordance with the teachings, the middle explanation is clear. Furthermore, when teaching is established in response to capacities, the teachings have distinctions between expedient and real, shallow and deep; one must set aside the finger to preserve the moon, and forget the traces to seek the origin. Thus Master Sengzhao said: 'Without the origin, there is no way to manifest the traces; without the traces, there is no way to reveal the origin.' Therefore, we explain through origin and traces. If one seeks the traces, the traces are so vast that one toils in vain; if one seeks the origin, the origin is so high that it cannot be reached at its peak. Day and night counting another's treasures, one does not possess half a coin oneself. One need only contemplate the height and breadth of one's own mind and knock upon the inexhaustible holy response; when the capacity matures, it brings about resonance, and one attains one's own benefit. Therefore, we explain through contemplation of mind."