大乘義章 1.63

1.63

總相如是，次別論之。假法有三：一體、二用、三者名字。於中義別乃有四種：一攝名用。從體說無，隨別以求，非直假體空無所有，名用亦無。如彼眾生，隨陰別求，生體叵得。既無生體，知復就何施名起用。設有所作，但是陰用，如是一切。是故就實體用及名，一切皆無。第二分名異於體用。就實以求，但無體用，非無假名。何故如是？隨別以分，假體不立，故無假體。用必依體，以無體故用亦不有，故無假用。名依相生，不依體發，故得有名。如貧賤人雖復無其富貴體用，亦得假名說為富貴，如是一切。三分名用異於假體。就實以論，但無假體，非無名用。何故如是？體據自實，隨別求假。假無自實，是以無體。用謂集用，諸法和合，相假成用，故有假用。如以一縷獨不制象，眾多相假便有制能，如是一切。既有假用，依用立名，名亦非無。四攝體用以從其名。非直有名，亦有體用，依和合相而起名字，故有假名。用此假名，統攝別法，皆成一總，故有假體。依體施用，故有假用。是故三種俱皆是有。有無如是。

Such is the general characteristic; next we discuss them specifically. There are three aspects to designated dharmas: 1. Entity, 2. Function, 3. Name. The conceptual distinctions among them are fourfold: 1. Subsuming name and function [into entity]. Speaking of nonexistence from the perspective of the entity: when sought according to specific components, not only is the designated entity completely nonexistent, but name and function are also nonexistent. Like that sentient being, when sought specifically among the skandhas, the entity of a sentient being cannot be found. Since there is no entity of a sentient being, upon what could one apply a name or initiate a function? Even if there is an action, it is merely the function of the skandhas, and so forth for all things. Therefore, with respect to the real, entity, function, and name are all nonexistent. 2. Distinguishing name as different from entity and function. When sought with respect to the real, there are merely no entity and function, but nominal designations are not nonexistent. Why is this so? When divided according to specific components, the designated entity is not established, hence there is no designated entity. Function must rely on an entity; because there is no entity, function also does not exist, hence there is no designated function. Name arises based on characteristics and does not issue from an entity, hence there can be a name. Just as a poor and lowly person, although lacking the entity and function of wealth and nobility, can also be provisionally named as wealthy and noble, and so forth for all things. 3. Distinguishing name and function as different from the designated entity. When discussed with respect to the real, there is merely no designated entity, but name and function are not nonexistent. Why is this so? 'Entity' refers to a real self-nature; seeking the designated among specific components, the designated lacks any real self-nature, and therefore has no entity. 'Function' refers to collective function: all dharmas combining, relying on each other to form a function, hence there is a designated function. Just as a single strand alone cannot subdue an elephant, but when many rely on one another there is the capacity to subdue it, and so forth for all things. Since there is a designated function, establishing a name based on the function, the name is also not nonexistent. 4. Subsuming entity and function to accord with their name. Not only is there a name, but there are also entity and function. Names arise based on the characteristic of combination, hence there are nominal designations. Using this nominal designation to unify and subsume distinct dharmas, they all form a single whole, hence there is a designated entity. Applying function based on the entity, there is a designated function. Therefore, all three are existent. Such is their existence and nonexistence.