修習止觀坐禪法要 1.176

1.176

夫三諦者，天然之性德也。中諦者，統一切法；真諦者，泯一切法；俗諦者，立一切法。舉一即三，非前後也。含生本具，非造作之所得也。悲夫祕藏不顯，蓋三惑之所覆也，故無明翳乎法性，塵沙障乎化導，見思阻乎空寂。然茲三惑乃體上之虛妄也。於是大覺慈尊喟然歎曰：「真如界內絕生佛之假名，平等慧中無自他之形相。但以眾生妄想不自證得，莫之能返也。」由是立乎三觀，破乎三惑，證乎三智，成乎三德。空觀者，破見思惑，證一切智，成般若德。假觀者，破塵沙惑，證道種智，成解脫德。中觀者，破無明惑，證一切種智，成法身德。然茲三惑三觀三智三德，非各別也，非異時也，天然之理具諸法故。然此三諦性之自爾，迷茲三諦轉成三惑。惑破藉乎三觀，觀成證乎三智，智成成乎三德，從因至果非漸修也。說之次第，理非次第。大綱如此，綱目可尋矣。

Now, as for the three truths, they are the virtues of innate nature, natural as they are. The truth of the middle subsumes all phenomena; the truth of the real obliterates all phenomena; the truth of the conventional establishes all phenomena. To cite one is immediately to cite the three; they are not sequential. Sentient beings inherently possess them; they are not acquired through conditioned activity. How sorrowful that the secret treasury is not manifest, covered as it is by the three delusions! Thus ignorance clouds the Dharma-nature, [delusions like] dust and sand impede converting and guiding, and [delusions of] view and thought obstruct emptiness and stillness. Yet these three delusions are merely illusions upon the essence. Thereupon the Great Awakened Benevolent Honoured One sighed with lamentation, saying: 'Within the realm of true suchness, conventional designations of beings and Buddhas are cut off; within the equal wisdom, forms and marks of self and other do not exist. It is only because of the false thoughts of sentient beings that they do not realize it themselves, and none can return to it.' Because of this, he established the three contemplations, eradicated the three delusions, realized the three wisdoms, and accomplished the three virtues. The contemplation of emptiness eradicates delusions of view and thought, realizes the all-knowledge, and accomplishes the virtue of prajñā. The contemplation of the provisional eradicates delusions of dust and sand, realizes the knowledge of the aspects of the path, and accomplishes the virtue of liberation. The contemplation of the middle eradicates the delusion of ignorance, realizes the knowledge of all aspects, and accomplishes the virtue of the Dharma-body. Yet these three delusions, three contemplations, three wisdoms, and three virtues are not distinct from one another, nor are they at different times, because the natural principle inherently contains all phenomena. These three truths are naturally so by nature, but confusion about these three truths turns into the three delusions. Eradication of the delusions relies on the three contemplations; perfection of contemplation realizes the three wisdoms; perfection of wisdom accomplishes the three virtues. From cause to fruit, it is not a gradual cultivation. Although explained in sequence, the principle is not sequential. Such is the grand outline; the details can be sought accordingly.