法界圖記叢髓錄 1.43

1.43

Fa's Record says: Regarding "With the dharma at the center as the beginning, winding and turning, up to buddha as the end"—"winding" refers directly to seeing the roundness of the seal, while "turning" refers to the various corners and bends. Question: If in terms of the path of the seal, it transcends beginning and end, why in terms of the characters is dharma the beginning and buddha the end? Answer: While in direct terms of principle there is indeed neither beginning nor end, if beginning and end are not indicated, there would be no upāya to enter the Dharma. Regarding "following the path of the seal": if considered solely in terms of the characters, it is the distinct teaching of the three vehicles; if considered solely in terms of the seal, it is the distinct teaching of the One Vehicle; having the seal follow the characters and having the characters follow the seal is the shared teaching of the One Vehicle; and if possessing all three, it is the perfect teaching of the One Vehicle. "Having the seal follow the characters" means the One Vehicle descending to the three vehicles. "Having the characters follow the seal" means the three vehicles participating in the One Vehicle. Upward participation and downward descent are both the shared teaching.