俱舍論疏 1.341

1.341

On the commentary text beginning, "The Śāstra says: ... are all subsumed under the saṃskāraskandha": this explains the verse text. The various treatises mostly provide two explanations, but the *Vibhāṣā* takes vocal sound as the correct substance. Chapter 126 of the *Vibhāṣā* says: "Question: What is the intrinsic nature of the Buddha's teaching? Is it vocal karma, or is it name (*nāma*) and the like? Answer: It should be said that vocal karma is the intrinsic nature. Question: If so, how can the subsequent statement be reconciled, as when it says, 'What dharma is called the Buddha's teaching?' and answers, 'It refers to the group of names (*nāmakāya*), group of phrases (*padakāya*), and group of phonemes (*vyañjanakāya*), up to their sequential combination'? Answer: The later text is intended to show the function of the Buddha's teaching, not to show the intrinsic nature of the Buddha's teaching. The sequential arrangement and combination of the groups of names, phrases, and phonemes is the function of the Buddha's teaching. Some say: The Buddha's teaching has names and the like as its intrinsic nature. Question: If so, how can what is said here be reconciled, as when it says, 'What is the Buddha's teaching? It refers to the Buddha's spoken words up to vocal intimation (*vāg-vijñapti*); this is called the Buddha's teaching'? Answer: This is said on the basis of indirect causes, just as in the world children and grandchildren are generated sequentially. That is, speech gives rise to names, and names are able to reveal meaning. The authoritative view is that vocal karma is the intrinsic nature, because it is spoken by the Buddha's intention and heard by others." It further says: "Question: Why is the Buddha's teaching only vocal intimation and not non-intimation (*avijñapti*)? Answer: Because it produces correct understanding in others, it is called the Buddha's teaching. The arising of correct understanding in others occurs only through intimation karma, not non-intimation (explained at length there)." It further says: "Should the Buddha's teaching be called wholesome (*kuśala*) or indeterminate (*avyākṛta*)? Answer: It is either wholesome or indeterminate. What is wholesome? It refers to the speech up to vocal intimation emitted from the Buddha's wholesome mind. What is indeterminate? It refers to the speech up to vocal intimation emitted from the Buddha's indeterminate mind. Question: In the Buddha's teaching, what is wholesome and what is indeterminate? Answer: The Abhidharma and Sūtra Piṭakas are mostly wholesome; the Vinaya Piṭaka is mostly indeterminate. As when the World-Honoured One said that doors should be closed, and robes and bowls should be placed on bamboo racks or pegs—such statements are all indeterminate. Some say: If the Buddha's teaching is spoken for those to be converted, it should be known as wholesome; if it is spoken for other matters, it is indeterminate. As when the World-Honoured One said to Ānanda: 'Go and observe whether the sky will rain or not rain; why is there loud and clamorous sound in the park?' Such statements are all indeterminate."