法界次第初門 3.21

3.21

First, rely on the Dharma, do not rely on the person. 'Relying on the Dharma' means that the real mark and all wholesome dharmas that accord with the real mark are collectively called 'Dharma', and also called the 'Dharmakāya'. If one relies on the real-mark Dharmakāya to cultivate the myriad practices and merits of the pāramitās, all will be fully perfected and completely pure, and able to reach bodhi; hence it is said: 'rely on the Dharma'. 'Do not rely on the person' means that a person is a body constructed by assembling the five skandhas, having merely the nominal designations of physical marks and signs. If one relies on a body of marks and signs to cultivate the myriad practices and merits of the pāramitās, one then falls into inversion and will never see the true Dharmakāya; hence it is said: 'do not rely on the person'. Why is this? As the Nirvāṇa [Sūtra] says: 'The demon king Pāpīyān can even assume the form of a buddha', how much more can he assume the form of a person of the four reliances? Therefore, even if someone is an ordinary person, if their spoken teaching and conduct accord with the real mark, they should be relied upon and trusted; even if someone manifests the bodily marks and signs of a buddha, if their spoken teaching and conduct deviate from the Dharma of the real mark, they should not be relied upon, much less any other person.