肇論疏 1.37

1.37

The treatise text has two parts: first the preface, and then the main text. Now the initial prefatory text is divided into four sections: first, recounting ordinary sentiment; second, clarifying true understanding; third, stating differences and similarities; fourth, expressing the intent of the treatise. Now, the first. Some editions have 'birth and death' (shengsi), and some have 'production and cessation' (shengmie); both are acceptable, and we now follow 'birth and death'. Some editions have 'alternately shift' (dieqian), and some have 'successively shift' (diqian); both are acceptable, and we now follow 'alternately shift'. The Xiao Ya says: 'Die and di both mean to alternate and substitute.' Now, explaining 'alternately shift', it means to mutually shift and change. As for 'birth and death', it does not simply mean human physical bodies dying here and being born there; it broadly refers to the birth, death, transformation, and change of all myriad things. As the Nirvāṇa Sūtra says: 'In all worlds, all who are born return to death. Although lifespan may be immeasurable, it must inevitably have an end.' Since one goes from birth to death and also from death to birth, birth and death cycle around without end or beginning; this is called 'alternating' (jiaoxie). 'Xie' means to pass away. The Yijing says: 'Heat departs and cold comes; cold departs and heat comes.' It also says: 'He drums them with thunder and lightning, moistens them with wind and rain; the sun and moon cycle, one cold and one heat.' This is what is meant by 'alternately shift'. Taking birth and death, cold and heat, they are named 'existence', they are named 'things'; all undergo shifting, passing away, moving, and changing; hence they are said to 'flow and move'. 'Flowing' is like water flowing; 'moving' is like wind moving. This is what ordinary sentiment understands. 'Ordinary' (chang) means regular/common. The Xiao Ya says: 'Four chi is called a ren; twice a ren is called a xun.' A xun is the span of two outstretched arms. 'Twice a xun is called a chang.'