淨名玄論 5.39

5.39

Next, regarding the gate of subsuming the three cognitions: concerning the doctrinal gates of the three cognitions, the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra states: "First is prajñā, the wisdom of all sentient beings, which is called inferior cognition. Second is vipaśyanā, the cognition of the two vehicles, which is middling cognition. Third is jñāna, the cognition of Buddhas and bodhisattvas, which is superior cognition." It also says: "Prajñā is the cognition of specific characteristics, knowing dharmas specifically. Vipaśyanā is the cognition of general characteristics, knowing dharmas generally. Jñāna breaks through characteristics; as for breaking through characteristics, prajñā knows existence, vipaśyanā illuminates emptiness, and jñāna renounces both emptiness and existence, which is the middle path cognition." Furthermore, as stated in the "Chapter on the Three Wisdoms" of the Prajñāpāramitā: "The two vehicles have the cognition of all, bodhisattvas have the cognition of the paths, and Buddhas have the cognition of all modes." The two vehicles are said to have the cognition of all because the twelve entrances subsume all dharmas, and the two vehicles know the twelve as suffering, empty, and impermanent, hence it is called the cognition of all. The śāstra states: "This only has the name of the cognition of all, but lacks the function of the cognition of all. It is like an extinguished lamp: it only has the name of a lamp, but lacks the function of a lamp." Question: How does it lack it? Answer: The Buddha fully knows the specific characteristics of all dharmas and only then can know all general characteristics. The two vehicles only know general characteristics and cannot know the two specific characteristics. As the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra states: "The two vehicles only know suffering, but cannot distinguish that this suffering has immeasurable aspects. In that sūtra I did not speak of this after all, hence the two vehicles cannot know specifically." Therefore it only has the name of the cognition of all, but lacks the function of the cognition of all. Bodhisattvas are said to have the wisdom of the aspects of the paths because bodhisattvas know four kinds of paths: the vehicle of humans and devas as the path of merit and happiness, and the three vehicles' paths. They know that the Buddha-path delivers both oneself and others, while the remaining three only deliver others. The Buddha is said to have the cognition of all modes; this cognition of all modes differs from the earlier cognition of all modes, for the earlier cognition of all modes only knew existing dharmas. Here, uniting emptiness and existence is called the cognition of all modes. The sūtra states: "Because it knows all characteristics, it is the cognition of all modes." It also states: "Knowing the practices, types, and characteristics of all dharmas is called the cognition of all modes." Among these three cognitions, both [latter ones] completely illuminate emptiness and existence, and both possess the two cognitions of provisional and real. Next, the Bodhisattvabhūmi-śāstra has three cognitions: First, pure cognition, completely severing the afflictions of the five entrenchments; hence it is called pure, which is the cognition of ultimate emptiness. Second, cognition of all, which is existential cognition. Third, unhindered cognition, non-effortful cognition; knowing all dharmas without further effort, hence it is called unhindered. The first is real cognition, and the latter two are provisional cognition. Next, the Mahāyānasaṃgraha has three cognitions: First, preparatory cognition (prayogika-jñāna), the mind that advances toward higher bhūmis. Second, fundamental cognition (mūla-tattvajñāna), the cognition that realizes tathatā, which is real cognition. Third, subsequently attained cognition (pṛṣṭhalabdha-jñāna), quiescent yet active, which is provisional cognition. These three cognitions form a sequence: first there is the cognition of advancing pursuit, next one directly attains real contemplation, and subsequently one gives rise to function from the real.