維摩義記 2.46

2.46

Next below, the third [section] refutes receiving a prophecy in terms of the dependent arising, production, and cessation of the true Dharma. The true Dharma is identical in substance and is termed "suchness." When suchness follows deluded sentiments, production and cessation arise in collection; when it follows delusion and defilement arises, it is called "production," and when purity is obscured, it is called "cessation." Furthermore, when purity arises following the antidotes, it is called "production," and when defilement rests, it is said to be "cessation." The production of dependent arising is not production that is [truly] produced; being production, it is non-production. The cessation of dependent arising is not cessation that [truly] ceases; being cessation, it is non-cessation. It is like a person who in the dark of night sees a rope as a snake: the appearance of the snake is called production, but being production, it is non-production; when dawn arrives, the snake ceases, but being cessation, it is non-cessation. Since production and cessation are non-existent, based on what could one speak of attainment? In the text, he first posits two alternatives, moving forward and backward: "Did you from the production of suchness..." is the first proposition; "Did you from the cessation of suchness..." is the second proposition. Because one receives the Buddha's prophecy based on the production and cessation of suchness, it is spoken of as "from." Moving forward or backward is undetermined, which is why both say "or." Below, he refutes it. "If you received the prophecy through the production of suchness" takes up what was previously posited. Suchness has no production; he refutes it by means of principle. "If you received the prophecy through the cessation of suchness" repeats what was subsequently posited. Suchness has no cessation; he refutes it by means of principle. Suchness is not production and cessation: it is not production that is [truly] produced, for being production, it is non-production; it is not cessation that [truly] ceases, for being cessation, it is non-cessation; hence it is said to be non-existent. Since production and cessation are non-existent, upon what could one receive a prophecy?