大毘盧遮那成佛經疏 3.24

3.24

The sūtra says: "At that time, the Bhagavat Vairocana, having universally surveyed the great assembly, addressed the Master of Secrets, Vajradhara, saying: 'Listen closely, Vajrapāṇi! I will now explain the practice of maṇḍala conduct, the Dharma-gateway that fulfills sarvajñajñāna.'" Here, the great assembly consists of those sentient beings to be saved who are gathered within the dharmadhātu-maṇḍala. Now, the Buddha wishes to explain the profound, esoteric practice; in order not to err regarding their capacities for the Path, he observes them with the eye of wisdom. It is through the adhiṣṭhāna of this very eye of wisdom that the sprouts of good from past lives are all unfolded, just as when good seeds have already been sown in a fertile field, it is ready to receive the bestowal of timely rain. This "practice" (修行) in Sanskrit is *naya*, which carries the meaning of a vehicle and the meaning of a path. That is to say, from a single thought of a good root up to the attainment of buddhahood, the dharma ridden upon and the path traveled through each and every bhūmi in the interim are collectively termed *naya*. The good spiritual mentors in the maṇḍala are like those who construct the vehicle, level the road, and act as guides; when sentient beings ride upon it and travel, it is called "practicing maṇḍala conduct." This "conduct" (行) is in Sanskrit *caryā*. For example, where the text below states "first select and prepare the level ground for the disciple," if spoken of in terms of external matters, it is naturally explained as usual. But if it is for a confused ordinary person clinging to a self, selecting and obtaining a single thought of the seed-mind of observing the precepts and leveling it to make it upright is also called "preparing the ground." Up to the bodhisattva bound to one last birth, selecting and removing the extremely subtle defilements of the parents of ignorance within the mind is also called "preparing the ground." Stated from this perspective, under each and every word of the sūtra text, how many layers are there to the meaning of "preparing the ground"! By analogy, like the ten phrases on origination from conditions, they all progressively deepen and cannot be exhausted. When Vajradhara made such an entreaty, buddhas after buddhas seal it with this very seal and only then expound it at length; hence it says "the Dharma-gateway that fulfills sarvajñajñāna." If this ground is not fulfilled, one cannot universally bring rescue, protection, peace, and happiness to all sentient beings.