二諦義 2.6

2.6

Question: The names of the two truths from perspective are the Buddha's teaching, and the names arise from the Buddha; from where do the two truths of emptiness and existence arise? Explanation: The two truths of emptiness and existence exist precisely because the Buddhas appear in the world; when Buddhas have not appeared in the world, they do not exist. To explain by contracting the long into the short: when the Buddha had not yet appeared in the world, although one spoke of emptiness and existence, one did not know that emptiness and existence are the two truths. Just as before the Buddha appeared in the world, there were also names such as suffering, origin, cessation, and path, yet it was not known that suffering, origin, cessation, and path are truths. Because the Buddha appeared in the world, he expounded the four truths of suffering, origin, cessation, and path; therefore the sūtra says 'the gate of ambrosia was first opened.' Emptiness and existence are also like this: because the Buddha appeared in the world, he designated emptiness and existence as the two truths; hence it is said that only when the Buddha appears in the world are emptiness and existence named the two truths. Next, to explain more extensively: whether the Buddha appears in the world or has not appeared in the world, emptiness and existence are both known through the Buddha. Therefore the Tattvasiddhi-śāstra says: 'At the beginning of the kalpa, things did not yet have names; for the sake of utility, noble ones established names for things, such as vase, clothing, and so forth. Emptiness and existence are also like this: when the Buddha had not yet appeared in the world, noble ones established names for emptiness and existence.' If so, whether the Buddha appears in the world or has not appeared in the world, the names of emptiness and existence both exist through the Buddha. Next question: The names of the truths from perspective are like this. From where does the truth from perspective arise? Explanation: There are two kinds of truths from perspective: first, the two truths from perspective of two conceptions; second, the two truths from perspective of conception and cognition. The two truths from perspective of two conceptions can be understood. Why? The two truths from perspective of two conceptions arise from the Buddha's teaching. It explains that the Buddha expounds the teaching of the two truths for sentient beings, but sentient beings do not understand and form two understandings of emptiness and existence, constituting the two truths from perspective; this 'perspective' arises from teaching.