二諦義 1.10

1.10

Question: How is it known that when the Buddhas rely on the two truths to teach the Dharma, the two truths are the basis? The explanation is: It comes from the treatise and does not depend on human explanation; hence it is said that because sūtras have treatises, their meaning is easily understood. Now we explain it relying on the treatise. In the 'Examination of the Four Truths', the treatise first explains the two truths, and next explains relying on the two truths to teach the Dharma. First, explaining the two truths, it says: 'As for conventional truth, all phenomena have the nature of emptiness, yet the worldly in their inversion call it existent; to the worldly this is real, and it is named conventional truth. The noble ones truly know that the inversion has the nature of emptiness; to the noble ones this is real, and it is named ultimate truth.' Next, it says: 'The Buddhas rely on these two truths to teach the Dharma for sentient beings.' This means that having first finished explaining the two truths, it then reveals that the Buddhas rely on these two truths to teach the Dharma for sentient beings. Therefore, we know that the two truths are the root, and teaching the Dharma is the branch; the two truths are the basis, and teaching the Dharma is the dependent; in reliance upon these two truths they teach the Dharma for sentient beings. Question: It has traditionally been said that the Buddhas relying on the two truths to teach the Dharma means teaching the conventional for ordinary people and teaching the ultimate for noble ones, teaching existence for ordinary conditions and teaching emptiness for noble conditions, and this is called relying on the two truths to teach the Dharma. Since it says they rely on the two truths to teach the Dharma for sentient beings, how can one say that teaching existence for ordinary people and teaching emptiness for noble ones is relying on the two truths to teach the Dharma? Now we clarify that, as above, existence is real to ordinary people and named conventional truth, and emptiness is real to noble ones and named ultimate truth; relying on these two truths, they teach the Dharma for sentient beings.