妙法蓮華經文句 1.112

1.112

As for origin and traces: this Kauṇḍinya is fundamentally of non-arising from the origin, not newly non-arising; wishing to guide milk into curds, his trace was the non-arising of the initial teaching; to guide curds into raw butter, his trace was the non-arising of the shared [teaching]; to guide raw [butter] into clarified butter, his trace was the non-arising of the distinctive [teaching]; to guide clarified butter into ghee, his trace was the non-arising of the perfect [teaching]. Yet his original ground abides in the letter A, which means that all dharmas fundamentally do not arise. If one hears the letter A, one understands that all meanings are neither arising nor non-arising; extending traces to guide and transform, he can act as arising and non-arising. If sentient beings can understand the perfect non-arising, they will be identical with Ājñāta: neither origin nor trace, neither arising nor non-arising, and the one great matter of causality is completed here. Therefore, it is said below: 'Pūrṇa, if I were to explain in full the various transformation matters, sentient beings hearing this would harbor doubts in their minds.' This is precisely its meaning. The Āgama says: 'Ānanda held a parasol and lamp, following behind the Buddha; the Great Brahmā King held a parasol and lamp, following behind Kauṇḍinya.' These are all displays of traces intended to reveal the origin.