勝鬘寶窟 3.15

3.15

Seventh is the section on critical evaluation. Question: What is the difference between the path among the four truths and the path of bodhi? Answer: Regardless of Mahāyāna or Hīnayāna, the path among the four truths is called the causal path, which is impermanent. Hence it is said: "The truth of origination is the cause, and the truth of suffering is the fruit. The truth of the path is the cause, and the truth of cessation is the fruit." Unexcelled bodhi refers to the fruitional path, which is permanently abiding. Question: The *Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā* says: "Bodhi is the path, and the path is bodhi." What meaning does this clarify? Answer: "Bodhi" is the fruit of unexcelled bodhi. "The path" refers to the causal path. This intends to clarify the non-duality of cause and fruit; hence it says "is." However, among the designations, "bodhi" is based on the foreign pronunciation, while "path" is expressed in the terms of this land. Previously, undefiled karma, with ignorance as condition, produces three kinds of mind-made bodies. In that case, the undefiled belongs to the truth of origination; what then is now used as the truth of the path? Answer: The undefiled of the three vehicles has two meanings in total. First, with respect to the meaning of being moistened by ignorance and dragging forth rebirth, it is called origination; yet that undefiled has the efficacy of advancing toward the severing of afflictions, and is spoken of as the path.