大毘盧遮那成佛經疏 3.15

3.15

The sūtra says: “Furthermore, Lord of Mysteries! Understand the sound of mantras through the simile of an echo. As an echo exists dependent upon sound, that mantrin should understand in this way.” The Expository Treatise says: “In deep mountain gorges, in deep and sheer ravines, or in vast empty halls, because vocal sounds reverberate against each other, sound arises from sound and is called an echo; unwise people consider it to be real. A wise person thinks: ‘This sound has no maker; it is merely that due to the propagation of sound, there is further an echo that deceives the ear faculty.’ When a person wishes to speak, there is also wind in the throat and mouth, called udāna, which returns down to the navel. When the sound comes forth, it strikes seven places—the crown of the head, gums, teeth, lips, tongue, throat, and chest—and then recedes; this is called speech. Deluded people do not understand and give rise to the three poisons. Wise people fully understand and their minds have no attachment, but merely accord with the dharmatā of all phenomena.” When a mantra practitioner, during yoga, hears the various sounds of the eight worldly winds, whether favorable or adverse, or when the holy ones manifest before them to instruct with immeasurable Dharma sounds, or when, through the purity of the tongue faculty, they are able to fill the worlds with a single sound—upon encountering all these states, they should also contemplate with the simile of an echo: these exist merely from the manifold conditions of the three mysteries; these matters neither arise nor cease, neither exist nor do not exist; therefore one should not falsely give rise to prapañca within them, and at that time will spontaneously enter the Dharma gateway of sound-wisdom.