大毘盧遮那成佛經疏 13.23

13.23

Next, regarding the formation of the sword mudrā: the sword symbolizes sharp wisdom, taking the capacity to sever and eliminate as its meaning; that is, eliminating the mountain peaks of evil views. Just as the peaks of a great mountain are exceedingly numerous and disordered, afflictions are also like this. Now, one forms this sword mudrā; by means of this mudrā (it is as explained above). Bend the two wind fingers so their tips face each other, and press and twist them together with the two space fingers side by side, making it take the shape of a great sword—this is it. Its mantra is: *namaḥ samanta-buddhānām* (as above). The great sword, immaculate dharma, manifests; innate personality view is cut off; the tathāgata's conviction arises; the dharma of non-greed arises. Recite this mantra in Sanskrit pronunciation. In the sūtra, its meaning has already been annotated, as explained above. This mantra takes the initial syllable *ma* as its heart, which means "self." Furthermore, it is a syllable with five void-dots, which means "all-pervading." Here, the intention is precisely to destroy this view of self. One should know that this sword mudrā is the great wisdom of the buddhas, because it can sever all views. By cutting off and casting away the root of afflictions with the sword, the immaculate dharma is manifested. Categories such as innate personality view are impurities. Now, after cutting off these impurities, one rests. If error has not yet ceased, there is a superior dharma; that is, having eliminated these impurities, conviction in the Tathāgata shall arise (this meaning is as explained at the very beginning). What dharma is conviction in the Tathāgata? It refers to wholesome roots such as non-greed; therefore, the syllable *ha* arises next. Therein, the syllable *ha* is the cause; in order to eliminate this cause, there is a long *ā* dot at its side, which signifies that all dharmas are originally unborn. Below it is *u*, representing samādhi; above is a dot, which is the great emptiness. Reciting this enables the practitioner to fulfill the three kinds of bodies; because there are three meanings within this syllable, the dharmakāya manifests. The Tripiṭaka Master said: "In the Western regions, the mudrā rituals are especially secret. When performing them, one must also be extremely reverent. It must be inside a venerable room and in an empty, quiet, and clean place. One should bathe and adorn one's body. If one cannot bathe every single time, one must wash one's hands clean, rinse the mouth, and smear the hands with incense paste before one may perform them. Furthermore, when performing them, one must maintain proper deportment, sitting in full lotus posture, and so forth. Otherwise, one incurs sin, causing the practice not to be swiftly accomplished."