法界次第初門 3.64

3.64

Third, like the moon in the water. 'Like the moon in the water' means that the moon is in the sky, while its reflection appears in the water. The characteristics of real dharmas reside in the open space of suchness, the dharmadhātu, and the reality-limit, while in the water of the ordinary person's mind, the characteristics of self and what belongs to self appear; for this reason it is like the moon in the water. Just as a small child, seeing the moon in the water, is delighted and wishes to grasp it, while an adult seeing this laughs; the unwise are also like this: due to the view of selfhood, they see an 'I' and a self; lacking true wisdom, they see various dharmas, and having seen them, they are delighted and wish to grasp various characteristics, such as the characteristic of male and the characteristic of female. The noble ones who have attained the Path pity them and laugh.