大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 70.47

70.47

Regarding the commentary's "Second, the time of performing the action": this line is the text of the treatise. From "Explaining the word 'action' in the sūtra" downwards, the commentary explains that it applies to the three karmas. Volition of decision is itself mental karma; only upon reaching the volition of decision is the course of karma completed and capable of bringing about retribution. The phrase "If in body and speech" downwards distinguishes the other two karmas. From "Cheng weishi" downwards, the treatise is cited to establish and verify. Fascicle 1 of that treatise extensively refutes the external schools' manifest and unmanifest form, and afterwards the Hīnayāna cites a sūtra to question: "The World-Honoured One taught in the sūtras that there are three karmas. In denying body, speech, and mind, does this not contradict the sūtras?" Therefore the treatise answers: "We do not deny them as non-existent; we only say they are not form. The volition that can move the body is called bodily karma; the volition that can produce speech is called vocal karma. Because the two volitions of deliberation and decision are associated with the mind and actuate the mind, they are called mental karma." Explanation: this sets forth the substances of the three karmas. Now volition has three kinds: first, deliberating volition; second, deciding volition; third, actuating volition. The first two volitions are the remote and proximate preparations that produce body and speech. Actuating volition directly produces body and speech, and is the substance of those two karmas. Because the first two volitions accompany the mind and actuate the mind, they are called mental karma. Therefore, volition is taken collectively as the substance of the three karmas. Explanation: hence within mental karma, both volitions must be present for the course of karma to be completed, as clarified above. Now, in terms of completing karma, one merely speaks of decision; hence the Jin translation of the sūtra says: "distinguishing the characteristics that cannot be distinguished."