肇論疏 3.19

3.19

Third is reiterating the initial cause. The final chapter of Yao Xing's explanation of the first topic contains these words. It says: "Lately, the various masters' explanations of ultimate truth have taken it to be like this, diverging excessively far." Jing means far; ting means direct. This means that like an object going straight and far, it proceeds directly without being able to turn back. There is this class of people, and one laments them deeply. Now Sovereign Yao considers that the various masters say ultimate truth is grandly empty and utterly empty, diverging excessively from normal bounds and surpassing human sensibilities. "If there were no sage, who would know the non-existent?" This is Sovereign Yao's objection to the various masters. "Truly as the luminous edict states! Truly as the luminous edict states!" Sengzhao affirms and establishes this. "Now the Way is indistinct and shadowy": Laozi says, "Indistinct and shadowy, within it is a thing; shadowy and indistinct, within it is an image." Indistinct and shadowy means indeterminate; shadowy and dark means deep and profound—the Shuowen explains it thus. "If there were no sage, who would roam with the Way?" This means there is a sage who realizes the sacred Way and wanders together with the Way. From "Recently the various scholars..." onward: this says that when these scholars heard of the great void, they were hesitant and resentful in their hearts. The Guangya says: "Chouchu means hesitant." The Cangjie pian says: "Yangyang means resentful and aggrieved." Here it means resentful and aggrieved, harbouring resentment. "Fortunately, they encountered your exalted judgment, and the doctrinal path became distinct": this says the various people had good fortune in encountering Sovereign Yao's exalted judgment, and their minds became clearly resolved (pronounced with the fanqie hu-liang; the Cangjie says it is the sound of tearing silk). "Those who knock at the barrier densely ascend the profound chamber": "knocking" means striking; "barrier" means the barrier of the profound gate; "clique [chou]" means class. (Wei is pronounced with the sound of wei); the Cangjie says, "It is the appearance of luxuriant vegetation." This means students vie to enter the profound gate like luxuriant vegetation. From "It truly can be called..." onward: he praises Sovereign Yao's words as being like the turning of the wheel of the Dharma once more.