二諦義 1.54

1.54

Question: Others sever the two afflictions to attain the lesser noble status, and sever the afflictions of the five entrenchments to attain the great fruit. You now do not sever them; how can you speak of lesser noble status and the great fruit? Explanation: You sever afflictions to have noble status; I originally have no afflictions—how could I lack noble status? Furthermore, to turn it back: you see afflictions arise and now sever them, yet you do not attain noble status; only if one knows afflictions are originally unarisen and unperished does one attain noble status. Why? Non-arising and non-perishing is the origin; knowing the origin, one can accomplish noble status. If you do not know the origin, how could you accomplish noble status? Therefore the Lotus Sūtra says: 'World-Honoured One! I have now attained the Path and attained the fruit, attaining the pure eye with respect to undefiled dharmas.' Attaining the Path today, one should know that previously one had not yet attained the Path. Also the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra says: 'You bhikṣus have not yet eliminated the fetters for the sake of the Mahāyāna.' For this reason, what was previously severed was not severed; now is severance for the first time. The general meaning of the two truths from the preceding has been briefly explained in this manner.