金光明經文句記 2.174

2.174

As for the first meaning: what was explained above as the reward only discussed merging with the Dharma, which is the self-enjoyment [body]. The Suvarṇaprabhāsa projects responses, contrasting the permanent response of other-enjoyment with the impermanent response of the physical body to show two trace functions. Therefore, it explains both "body" and "non-body" and so forth: "body" is the physical body, which has delimited marks, and is therefore called "body"; "non-body" is the reward [body], which has no delimited marks, and is therefore called "non-body." The Small Prajñā says: "The Buddha spoke of non-body, which is called the great body." The "great body" is the other-enjoyment body. The non-delimited body has a permanent lifespan, and is therefore measureless; the delimited body has an impermanent lifespan, and is therefore measured. These two response functions dwell based on the two principles of truth and the middle, while capacities perceive them based on the phenomenon-consciousness and the karma-consciousness. Dwelling in principle is distinguished at length in the commentary on the "Introductory Chapter." The two consciousnesses are explained in detail in the Awakening of Faith. The point of the treatise is primarily that when perceived by the phenomenon-consciousness, one grasps form-delimitation, which is therefore called the response Buddha; when perceived by the karma-consciousness, it is free from delimited marks, and is therefore the reward body. Practitioners should know that the permanent, measureless body responds comprehensively to the three lands; the impermanent, measured body responds only to [the land of] common abode. Why is this? Because for the capacity of the real reward [land] to partially realize [the truth], they are said to see the other-enjoyment body; those in the expedient land solely receive the separate and perfect [teachings], and although the Buddha-characteristics they perceive have slight superiority and inferiority, they are not the physical body but are entirely the reward Buddha. In the land of common abode, capacities of the four teachings are present; those who receive the separate and perfect teachings are able to behold the reward Buddha. Therefore, the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra clarifies that he is ever on Vulture Peak, the Avataṃsaka expounds the Dharma exhausting future kalpas, and various Mahāyāna sūtras perceive right within the response marks that this is the exalted and distinctive body of dharma-nature; thus we know that the permanent body responds throughout all three lands. As for the impermanent body, it responds only to common abode, adapting to the capacities of the Tripiṭaka and shared [teachings] and the assembly of ordinary beings.