大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 75.16

75.16

In the commentary, "If the various approaches are interwoven to form multiple four propositions," etc., is the second [part], multiple layers of four propositions. In total there are four sections, forming twenty layers. The first section has eight layers: 1. Correlating existence in the first approach with non-existence in the second approach forms four propositions: first, dependent origination is existent, because the true nature is wondrously existent; second, dependent origination is non-existent, because karma and afflictions lack essence; third, both existent and non-existent, simultaneously illuminating the real and the false; fourth, neither existent nor non-existent, both the real and the false being simultaneously severed. 2. Correlating non-existence in the first approach with existence in the second forms four propositions: first, dependent origination is existent, because karma and afflictions have function and engender saṃsāra; second, is non-existent, because the one true dharmadhātu is free from all characteristics; third, both existent and non-existent, simultaneously illuminating the real and the false; fourth, neither existent nor non-existent, both the real and the false being simultaneously severed. 3. Correlating existence in the first approach with non-existence in the third approach forms four propositions: first, dependent origination is existent, because the true nature exists; second, is non-existent, because phenomena lack reality; third, both existent and non-existent, simultaneously illuminating phenomena and principle; fourth, neither existent nor non-existent, phenomena and principle being mutually identical and mutually obliterating each other. 4. Correlating non-existence in the first approach with existence in the third forms four propositions: first, phenomenal characteristics exist; second, characteristics of principle are empty; third, emptiness and existence both appear; fourth, emptiness and existence mutually obliterate each other. 5. Correlating existence in the first approach with non-existence in the fourth approach forms four propositions: first, the true nature exists; second, phenomena are hollow; third, simultaneously illuminating both; fourth, mutually identical and eliminating each other. 6. Correlating non-existence in the first approach with existence in the fourth forms four propositions: first, the principle of lacking intrinsic nature exists; second, the principle lacks characteristics; third, both meanings appear simultaneously; fourth, neither existent nor non-existent, the true middle way. 7. Correlating existence in the first approach with non-existence in the fifth forms four propositions: first, the true principle exists; second, sentiment's conceptualization is non-existent with respect to principle; third, where existence is, false conceptualization is non-existent; fourth, existence of nature is itself non-existence in principle, and non-existence in principle is itself existence of nature. 8. Correlating non-existence in the first approach with existence in the fifth forms four propositions: first, existence, existing in sentiment; second, non-existence, principle lacking characteristics; third, both preserved, since only when principle lacks characteristics is it existent in false sentiment; fourth, both negated, since the existence of false sentiment is itself the formlessness of the true principle, hence not existent, and the formlessness of the true nature can be the reliance for false sentiment, hence not non-existent. The above uses the existence and non-existence of the first approach correlated with the existence and non-existence of the four lower approaches to form eight layers of four propositions. Secondly, using the existence and non-existence of the second approach correlated with the three lower approaches again forms six layers of four propositions; thirdly, using the existence and non-existence of the third approach correlated with the two lower approaches again forms four layers of four propositions; fourthly, using the existence and non-existence of the fourth approach correlated with the existence and non-existence of the fifth approach forms two layers of four propositions, totalling twenty layers of four propositions. One must not take the latter as the head and correlate it back with the earlier, because that is not different from taking the earlier approach as the head and correlating it with the latter. Now I have set out the eight layers in full; for the other twelve layers, reflect upon them by analogy, as I will not present them for fear of verbosity.