大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 52.68

52.68

Regarding the Commentary's text from 'Since it is the cause of Buddhahood' downward, the Commentary explains the sūtra text. Because the Buddha-Dharma has two meanings: first, it is the Dharma that is the cause of Buddhahood; second, it is the Dharma realized by the Buddha, because they identically realize tathatā. From 'the paths of mind and speech are severed' it explains inconceivable, meaning that the path of words is cut off and the locus of mental activity is extinguished, as already detailed in the previous text. However, Master Yuan said: 'This is an expression praising superiority. Viewing emotional cognition from the standpoint of the Dharma, it is called inconceivable, because originally there is no emotional cognition outside of the Dharma. What is its meaning? The arising of emotional characteristics originates from false thinking; because of false thinking, characteristics are produced; because of relying on characteristics, mental thoughts arise again; grasping reality according to names is vitarka and vicāra; relying on this vitarka and vicāra, words and speech then arise; having spoken words, mental thoughts arise again, grasping the Dharma that was expounded. This means that words and speech serve as the path, and the mind serves as the activity; thereupon mental thoughts blaze without ceasing. Now, tallying with the reality of phenomena, false thinking is eradicated, and characteristics are not produced; because characteristics are not produced, the mind that establishes names is extinguished. Because the mind of names is extinguished, names are not produced; because names are not produced, vitarka and vicāra do not arise; because vitarka and vicāra do not arise, words and speech accordingly perish; because words and speech perish, one no longer grasps what is expounded based on words. Because one does not grasp what is expounded, the path of words is cut off and the locus of mental activity is extinguished; because mental activity is extinguished, it is called inconceivable. Because the Dharma transcends emotional cognition and is beyond mind and words, it is inconceivable. Here it is viewed from emotional cognition toward the Dharma; therefore, it is inconceivable.' The commentary says: Although his words are intricate and layered, the principle is present.