法界次第初門 3.23

3.23

Third, rely on the meaning, do not rely on the letter. 'Relying on the meaning' means that 'meaning' is the ultimate truth of the middle way. If one relies on the ultimate truth of the middle way to cultivate the myriad practices and merits of the pāramitās, then the path of speech is cut off and the locus of mental activity is extinguished; all inversions are shattered, mind-moment after mind-moment is tranquil and extinguished, and one naturally flows into immeasurable samādhis; hence it is said: 'rely on the meaning'. 'Do not rely on the letter' means that 'letter' refers to worldly speech; written characters, passages, and phrases are deceptive and without reality; even the true-truth nirvāṇa seen by the two vehicles still involves letters, which is why the Lotus Sūtra uses the simile of the conjured city. If one relies on such letters and speech to cultivate the myriad practices and merits of the pāramitās, one will increase disputes, conceptual thoughts, and afflictions, or fall into the stage of the two vehicles and fail to reach the great parinirvāṇa of the Mahāyāna; hence it is said: 'do not rely on the letter'.