金剛三昧經論 3.31

3.31

The treatise says: This clarifies the buddha-ground. It also has two clauses: first, it clarifies the meaning of relinquishment, namely revealing the characteristics of relinquishment by means of three points. "Not abiding in emptiness-nature, correct cognition flowing and transforming" means not abiding in nirvāṇa where the body is turned to ashes and cognition is extinguished, because cognition is not extinguished; the cognition of quantities continues to flow, changing according to beings' faculties in order to perform the buddha-work. "Great compassion having the mark of thusness while the mark does not abide in thusness": unconditioned great compassion does not seize upon the distinguishing marks of persons or dharmas, hence it is said to 'have the mark of thusness.' Constantly operating across the six destinies without ever halting, it is therefore said that 'the mark does not abide in thusness.' 'Samyak' means correct, 'sam' means equal, and 'bodhi' means awakening; spoken collectively, it means correct and equal awakening, which is the complete, unexcelled bodhi, in which there is no abiding and which with an open mind one does not realize. Among these three points, the first two are relinquishment through not abiding in nirvāṇa; the latter one is relinquishment through not seizing upon bodhi. Next, it clarifies the condition of the stage. "The mind without boundaries": returning to the one mind's source, the essence of the mind is all-pervading; because it pervades the ten directions, it is without bounds; because it encompasses the three times, it is without limits. Although it encompasses the three times, it has no distinction between past and present; although it pervades the ten directions, it has no spatial location of 'here' and 'there'; on this account, it is said that 'one does not see any place.' Such an ultimate fruition is not shared with others; it is reached only by those who ride upon thusness; on this account, it is said that 'this is reaching the Tathāgata.' Above, the distinct clarification of the five equal stages is concluded.