觀心論疏 4.11

4.11

Question: Why is this so? Answer: The Mūlamadhyamakakārikā says: "Phenomena arisen through causes and conditions, I explain as emptiness, also as provisional designation, and also as the meaning of the Middle Way." The ten suchnesses of the six destinies are precisely phenomena arisen through causes and conditions; the ten suchnesses of the two vehicles are emptiness; the ten suchnesses of the bodhisattvas are provisionality; the ten suchnesses of the Buddha are the Middle. Thus, the ten realms and hundred suchnesses are simply the three contemplations. The Buddha possesses emptiness and provisionality while always abiding in the Middle, unstained by the two extremes; therefore, the ten realms possessed by the Buddha are all permanent. But although sentient beings possess the three contemplations, because they do not attain the function of the two contemplations of emptiness and the Middle, they are stained by the six sense objects and are consequently impermanent. Although they do not attain their function, one cannot say they lack the two contemplations of emptiness and the Middle. When the poor woman does not know of the buried treasure, one cannot say she has no wealth; as when the foolish king is not skilled at drawing forth the sound, one cannot say there is no tone. Illustrating this by these two analogies, it can be understood through discernment, and there is no need to doubt. One who achieves such round faith is called a person of the Initial Chapter on Rejoicing in Accordance. Therefore, the Lotus Sūtra measures this person's merit as inconceivable; all Buddhas exhausting kalpas praising their merit could not exhaust it—how much less could an ordinary being! The matter is as the sūtra explains: because Sadāparibhūta cultivated this round faith, he venerated all sentient beings, regarding them all as Buddhas. Hence, sentient beings of the six destinies all possess the wonderful dharmas of the Buddha-dharma-realm's substance, power, nature, characteristics, and so on; how could they be disparaged? Because of this round faith, he attained purity of the six faculties. The dragon girl cultivated by means of the round, and quickly achieved sambodhi. Thus the sūtra says: "I originally made a vow, desiring to cause all beings to enter the Buddha path; my vow is now fulfilled, the task of this period is accomplished; therefore, when the twenty thousand Candrasūryapradīpa Buddhas finished preaching the Lotus, they immediately entered nirvāṇa." Truly there is good reason for this.