金剛三昧經論 2.111

2.111

The treatise states: This is the third part, receiving and understanding, and the fourth part, confirmation. Regarding "inconceivable": this generally receives and praises its profundity. Below is the distinct receiving and understanding, within which there are two parts: first, receiving the words and phrases; second, receiving the principle. When it says "Awakening [wherein] thoughts do not arise and the mind is safe and tranquil," this receives the previous sentence, "stilling thoughts so that none arise and the mind ever safe and tranquil"; this is the ultimate reach of initial awakening. Below, receiving the principle, it says, "is precisely the benefit of innate awakening"; this receives the meaning that there is no initial awakening distinct from innate awakening, as the treatise [Awakening of Faith] says: "If one attains thoughtlessness, one then knows the mind's characteristics of arising, abiding, change, and cessation; because of the equality of thoughtlessness, in truth there is no difference of initial awakening. Because the four characteristics exist simultaneously and none has self-subsistence, they are originally equal, identical to a single awakening." Note: "In truth there is no difference of initial awakening" explains the sūtra's sentence "is precisely the benefit of innate awakening." "Because the four characteristics exist simultaneously, none has self-subsistence, and they are originally equal" explains the sūtra's "the benefit is devoid of motion." Because initial awakening thus awakens to and knows there is no difference, it is able to attain "constantly present and not nonexistent." Saying "constantly present" simply means not nonexistent. However, here it speaks of constant yet non-[existent], and since it will not be existent, it says "devoid of nonexistence." Since there will be no initial awakening as existent, although awakening is not nonexistent, there is no existent awakening; hence it says, "not nonexistent and not unawakened." Awakening to and knowing such a principle of non-awakening, one knows that initial awakening is not different from innate awakening; hence "awakening to the absence of awakening is the original benefit of innate awakening." One who ultimately awakens to and knows this is far removed from the covering of fundamental ignorance, hence "pure and undefiled." "Pure" means originally pure. "Undefiled" means now free from defilement. It is forever free from arising, abiding, change, and cessation, hence "unchanging and unaltering." "Unaltering" means devoid of arising and abiding. "Unchanging" means devoid of change and cessation. If it is so, it is identical to the limit of truth and equal to the dharma-nature; hence it says, "due to its determinate nature." Since it is identical to equality, beyond words and cutting off thought, it says "inconceivable." Having previously said "inconceivable," to state "inconceivable" again means that it is also inconceivable in its inconceivability. "The Buddha said, 'It is so'" is the fourth text of confirmation, because what was previously received and understood does not violate the principle.