肇論新疏 2.40

2.40

The "hidden depths" belongs to the wisdom of principle; that is, real wisdom illuminates without limit, so it is said to "exhaust the hidden depths." The ultimate truth is not a characteristic, so it is said to "have no knowledge." "Spirit" refers to conventional wisdom. Its responsive application is difficult to fathom, so it is named "spirit." "Responsive encountering" means that when there is a stimulus, it inevitably responds without missing the encounter. Yet, as the moon appears in clear water, it has no mind toward transformation; thus it is said to "have no deliberation." Question: Are great compassion and great vows not knowledge? Answer: Unconditioned compassion and animitta vows both extinguish knowledge and illumination. Thus the Vajrasamādhi-sūtra says: "If you transform sentient beings, let there be no production in transformation. When non-production is without transformation, its transformation is great indeed." Question: Observing capacities and discerning transformation, is this not knowledge? Answer: According to the treatise's fundamental meaning, it is solely due to the stimulus of capacities. Though responding to the ten thousand kinds, spirit is also without thought. When teaching accords with what is suitable for faculties, one speaks of it as "observing and discerning"; throughout the treatise from beginning to end, this principle is clearly evident.