請觀音經疏闡義鈔 4.18

4.18

Regarding "yang above and yin below," it is like heaven and earth; this is what is used in secular custom. From "the right is yang" downward, it directly explains the meaning of symbolic representation in the Buddhadharma. The right is yang and the left is yin, as noted previously. Regarding "wishing to take...," and so forth, yin represents concentration, and yang represents distraction; distraction is an obstacle to concentration; therefore, yin is placed above and yang below. Regarding "since secular custom has deportment," placing the left hand over the right hand is the secular deportment. From "this is..." downward, it shows that what is represented is coarse and rough—that is, the transgressions of the seven branches [of karma]. Regarding "from the provisional, displaying the real," zi (自) means "from." First placing the right hand below is like first setting forth the provisional; afterward placing the left hand above is like afterward displaying the real. Regarding "these precepts," and so on, among the ten kinds of persons, explaining wisdom is done only in terms of the persons, and further discrimination is needed. Within the stage of portioned [birth and death], seven persons are provisional and one person is real; within the stage of transformational [birth and death], one is provisional and one is real. Since wisdom is not equal, precepts and concentration are naturally distinct.