二諦義 2.16

2.16

Question: In the sūtras there is establishing and there is refuting; how can you say all is refuting? Explanation: In the sūtras, whether establishing or refuting, all is to refute illness. Why? In the sūtras, if a single color or a single fragrance is spoken of, all is to reveal the Way. If it did not reveal the Way, it might not refute illness. Since both establishing and refuting reveal the Way, both refuting and establishing are to refute illness. Since the sūtras are like this, the treatise masters studied the sūtras, and the Master studied the treatise masters. Followers of Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna have two illnesses, new and old; therefore, two treatise masters appeared in the world to refute them: Āryadeva refuted the old illness, and Nāgārjuna refuted the new illness. Since the treatise masters were like this, the Great Master was also like this, refuting these new and old illnesses, and therefore made such an exposition. The broad purport of the doctrinal meaning of the Way is indeed like this; one must obtain this intention: it is not that the doctrinal meaning of the Way is for establishing names, but that the doctrinal meaning of the Way is for putting names to rest. Because one intends to put names to rest, one must first explain names.