維摩經略疏 6.3

6.3

From "Is it from tathatā..." onward is the second part: refuting the reception of prophecy in one lifetime on the basis of the practice of unproducedness. The reason for refuting it on the basis of practice is due to Maitreya having an implicit objection. The objection says: That there is no reception of prophecy in principle may be granted. But what prevents one from relying on the practice of unproducedness, so that when practice completes wisdom and severance, one attains the prophecy of bodhi? The text has four parts: first, dual positing; second, dual refutation; third, dual confrontation; fourth, dual conclusion. First, as for the dual positing: Is it arising from tathatā, or perishing from tathatā? Why so? Maitreya's mind was not yet satisfied: If the principle of unproducedness is principle, then principle is tathatā, without prophecy or non-prophecy. But sentient beings have been deluded about principle from beginningless time, so there is birth-and-death. When buddhas and bodhisattvas contemplate unproducedness, as their genuine wisdom and light arise, the darkness of delusion gradually perishes; when wisdom arises and illuminates to the utmost, false delusions are entirely exhausted, and the fulfillment of wisdom and severance is called the fruit of bodhi. How could one use the principle of tathatā to rebuke the existence of receiving prophecy? Therefore, he first posits dually: Is it through the arising of tathatā or the perishing of tathatā that wisdom and severance are fulfilled and one receives prophecy? Regarding this dual positing, it profoundly addresses the reception of prophecy of wisdom and severance through the arising of tathatā and perishing of tathatā across the bodhisattvas of the three teachings. In the Shared and Distinct Teachings, they are superficially the same in phenomenon but differ in principle; between the Shared and Perfect Teachings, they differ in both phenomenon and principle; between [the Perfect] and the Distinct Teaching, they are the same in principle but differ in phenomenon.