大乘入道次第 1.6

1.6

Third, the stage of penetration is also divided into two: First, explaining the general name. 'Penetration' means direct realization and convergence. At this stage, the bodhisattva's uncontaminated wisdom directly realizes and verifies tathatā; hence it is called penetration. That is as the Cheng weishi lun says: 'Immediately following preparatory application, when this wisdom arises, directly realizing tathatā, it is named the stage of penetration.' This stage of penetration is none other than the path of seeing. The Cheng weishi lun and other texts state: 'The stage of penetration refers to the path of seeing upon which the bodhisattvas dwell.' As for the name 'path of seeing', uncontaminated wisdom illuminating the principle is called seeing. Thus the Cheng weishi lun says: 'Because it initially illuminates the principle, it is also called the path of seeing.' 'Path' (mārga) has the sense of traversing. Practitioners traverse it, proceeding toward the ultimate fruit. Or it has the sense of conveying: it conveys practitioners to the ultimate fruit; hence it is called the path. Next, explaining the specific names: First, the actual path of seeing. In its essence it is free from falsity and directly realizes the principle. Truly able to sever the obstacles, it is therefore called 'actual'. Alternatively explained: 'actual' is the principle and 'seeing' is the wisdom. The wisdom that realizes what is actual is called the actual path of seeing. Second, the mimetic path of seeing. 'Mimetic' (ākāra/lakṣaṇa) has the sense of resemblance. Arising after the actual path of seeing, its practice and understanding imitate and resemble all the functions of the actual seeing; though it cannot [directly] realize the principle or sever the obstacles, it resembles the actual; hence it is called mimetic seeing.