止觀輔行傳弘決 4.38

4.38

Part 5, "Practicing the Five Dharmas": its textual meaning is the same as before, yet without dividing phenomena and principle. The list is self-evident. From "The earlier metaphor..." onward, the original metaphor from before is taken up: first it is restated, and next it is applied. The first text first uses a counter-metaphor showing that without the five dharmas, what is undertaken will not succeed. First, "unwilling to act" is a metaphor for lacking zealous desire. "Acting without earnestness" is a metaphor for lacking vigor. "Not retaining the method of action" is a metaphor for lacking mindfulness. "Acting without skillful means" is a metaphor for lacking wisdom. "Not acting with single-mindedness" is a metaphor for lacking single-mindedness. "The endeavor will not succeed" is a metaphor for the correct practice not being completed. From "It is also like this now..." onward, it applies [the metaphor to] lacking the five dharmas. The two words "if lacking" govern all that follows below. "If lacking zealous desire, longing, and yearning" corresponds to lacking zealous desire. "If lacking harsh exertion of body and mind" corresponds to lacking vigor. "If lacking mindfulness and recollection" corresponds to lacking mindfulness. "If lacking expedients" corresponds to lacking skillful wisdom. "If lacking a single mind" corresponds to lacking single-mindedness. "Calming and contemplation [will not succeed]" corresponds to the correct practice not being completed. Even when fully possessing the twenty [conditions] above, if one lacks the five dharmas one will still not succeed, let alone when missing some among the twenty or lacking the five dharmas! From "If one can..." onward, it directly applies to possessing the five dharmas. The two words "if one can" also govern the five lines below. "If one can delight in practice without satiety" corresponds to possessing zealous desire. "If one can be untiring day and night" corresponds to possessing vigor. "If one can sustain continuity thought after thought" corresponds to possessing mindfulness. "If one can skillfully grasp its meaning" corresponds to possessing skillful wisdom. "If one can have a single mind without wavering" corresponds to possessing single-mindedness. From "This person..." onward, it applies to the completion of correct practice. Next, regarding the two metaphors: a boat travels upon the waters of the dharma-nature to reach the other shore. Next, the bird is like the practitioner, who from the first arousal of the mind roams through the emptiness of the true mark to reach the fruit of nirvāṇa. If one lacks the five dharmas, all practices will fail. Furthermore, the first abodement is taken as the destination reached. From "Lacking these five dharmas..." onward, the shallow is adduced to highlight the deep. Therefore, the earlier text says that even small matters are difficult, which refers to worldly dhyāna. From "One should know..." onward concludes the meaning. "Great" refers to the three teachings; "small" refers to the Tripiṭaka. "Phenomena" refers to worldly dhyāna; "principle" refers to the supramundane. Furthermore, worldly and supramundane each possess phenomena and principle; therefore, the first text earlier explained the expedient means comprehensively in terms of the gradual and the sudden.