大毘盧遮那成佛經疏 11.31

11.31

The sūtra says: "Using the syllable A gateway, coordinate inhalation and exhalation, and contemplate during the three periods. If the practitioner is then able to hold and recite it, their lifespan will abide in the world for long kalpas." This clarifies the unborn and unceasing gateway of the bodhicitta of the syllable A. If one wishes to live for a long time, one should visualize the syllable A as identical to the inhalation and exhalation of breath (that is, making this syllable the inhalation and exhalation, causing the inhalation and exhalation to be clear and uninterrupted). If one is short-lived, visualizing and contemplating in this way during the three periods every day, one will attain long life. As for the esoteric explanation: the syllable, the phrase, and the tutelary deity constitute the "three periods." If one wishes to neutralize all poisons, one should visualize this syllable A, either visualizing it on one's own body or on another's. If one acts with mastery, visualize this syllable at the place where the poison is, gradually spreading throughout the limbs to drive it downwards; as the poison gradually descends, the syllable also pursues it, and when it is chased out completely, it is eliminated. There are two kinds of poison: first, the poison of inanimate objects; second, the poison of sentient beings, which refers to the poison of dragons, snakes, and the like. According to the esoteric explanation, poison refers to the three poisons. When the three poisons flourish and one wishes to eliminate them, one acts as before, which means chasing them until they are completely gone. Where it says: "May one be loved and respected by rājas and the like"—this means using the gateways of the syllables A and HA to act upon those who should be delivered. That is, if one wishes to cause someone to hold affection and take refuge, one visualizes the syllable A as one's own body and the syllable HA as the other's body. One visualizes oneself holding a śaṅkha (conch), and also visualizes a lotus held by the other person, looking at each other, reciting this syllable A in one's mind. Even if the other person is angry and arrogant, they will also generate an affectionate mind and yield submissively. As for the esoteric explanation: if one wishes to subdue their mind, visualize oneself as the syllable A and visualize the mind as the syllable HA; with the lotus in the mind and the śaṅkha in the hand, causing them to accord with each other, one will be able to subdue it. All those who are difficult to subdue can also be subdued, referring to root defilements and secondary defilements.