金光明經文句 1.24

1.24

"Protected and sustained by the four Buddhas of the four directions": the "four directions" are the four gates. The "four Buddhas" are the awakening wisdom on the fruit[-level] of the four gates. Śākyamuni's awakening wisdom is identical to that of the four Buddhas; the fruit-wisdom of all Buddhas merges with dharmatā, and when dharmatā is revealed, it is called the dharmakāya. The dharmakāya being immovable is called "sustained". Because dharmatā is permanent, all Buddhas are also permanent; the Dharma being permanent and the Buddhas being permanent, their lifespans are also permanent, and being permanent, they are immeasurable. Ruciraketu tracked the traces and was perplexed by the origin; the four Buddhas caused him to comprehend the origin and awaken to the traces, which is called "protecting". This single phrase contains various meanings: the four gates of dharmatā and the four virtues of dharmatā are the meaning of substance; the fruit-wisdom revealing the substance is the meaning of principle; protecting and being mindful of Ruciraketu to sever his doubts is further the meaning of function; yet narrating the principle is the primary intent. Interpreting through contemplation of the mind: the four directions are the four truths; the four Buddhas are the wisdom of the four truths. East is the head of the directions, just as origin is the cause of suffering. Furthermore, east, jia and yi, is spring birth; birth is precisely the truth of origin. Moving from east next to south is like birth followed by growth, first spring and then summer; hence the southern direction is the truth of suffering. After growth comes autumn harvest; furthermore, the White Emperor belongs to metal, and metal can make decisive cuts; the western direction is the truth of the path. From autumn harvest to winter storage, all affairs cease; the northern direction is like the truth of cessation. Cause and fruit of suffering and origin have both run their course and are no longer used. Contemplating these four truths gives rise to vision, wisdom, clarity, and awakening, sustaining the principle without losing it and protecting against inversions without letting them arise; hence it is called "protecting and sustaining". Furthermore, contemplating the four directions is the four virtues: contemplating the east as permanent is to break through impermanence, contemplating impermanence is to break through permanence, and contemplating neither permanence nor impermanence breaks through permanence and impermanence; up to contemplating the north as non-self to break through self is also like this. This contemplation sustains the virtues without losing them and protects against inversions without letting them arise; hence it is called "protecting and sustaining". Contemplating the eastern truth of origin as permanent, non-permanent, neither permanent nor impermanent, and immovable—hence he is named Akṣobhya. Contemplating the southern truth of suffering as bliss, without coming or going, dharmatā and true mark—the true mark being noble and honored, hence he is named Ratnaketu. Contemplating the western truth of the path as utterly pure, the lifespan of dharmatā being equal to empty space—hence he is named Amitāyus. Contemplating the northern truth of cessation as eternal stillness, serving as the self, entering the secret store—being the secret store, hence he is named Dundubhisvaranirghoṣa (and so forth).