佛遺教經論疏節要 1.299

1.299

"Laxity" means not being diligent. It causes the foundations of mindfulness to regress and be lost, failing to accomplish the wisdom of the mind. As for "fire", the noble path is like fire, capable of burning the fuel of defilements. The stages prior to the stages of Heat and Summit are all termed "not yet hot". If one rests after it has become hot, fire will still not arise; if one repeatedly rests before it is hot, even if kalpas of years pass, there will never be any principle of obtaining it. This speaks of the fault of indolence. A verse of the Avataṃsaka-sūtra says: 'Like drilling tinder seeking fire, / repeatedly resting before it appears, / the force of fire dies out accordingly; / so too it is with the indolent.' The commentary on that text explains indolence in terms of the three wisdoms: in terms of hearing, if listening and learning are frequently interrupted, clear understanding does not arise; in terms of reflection, if discerning and determining are frequently interrupted, true wisdom does not arise; in terms of cultivation, if concentration and wisdom are frequently interrupted, the noble path does not arise. The six patriarchs of the Chan school jointly transmitted this metaphor; may all students engrave it on their minds and write it on their sashes.