四教義 1.9

1.9

Fourth, explaining the name 'perfect teaching': 'perfect' takes being unbiased as its meaning. This teaching clarifies inconceivable causes and conditions, being complete in the two truths and the middle way, in phenomena and principle, neither biased nor distinct, transforming only persons of the supreme sharp faculties; therefore it is named 'the perfect teaching.' The Avataṃsaka Sūtra says: 'Manifesting unimpeded power, / He preaches the complete sūtras for them; / Limitless sentient beings / Are all bestowed prophecies of bodhi.' This sūtra [Vimalakīrti-nirdeśa] says: 'All sentient beings are identical to great nirvāṇa, and cannot be extinguished again.' The 'Chapter on Completeness' in the Dàpǐn jīng says: 'Although all dharmas are empty, one mind is complete in the myriad practices.' The Lotus Sūtra says: 'Joining palms with reverent minds, / They wish to hear the complete path.' The Nirvāṇa Sūtra says: 'The adamantine treasure-store has nothing lacking or diminished.' Hence it is named 'the perfect teaching.' In speaking of 'perfect,' its meanings are manifold, but to speak briefly there are eight: first, perfect teaching; second, perfect principle; third, perfect wisdom; fourth, perfect severance; fifth, perfect practice; sixth, perfect stages; seventh, perfect cause; eighth, perfect fruition. Perfect teaching: it directly expounds the middle way, and is therefore said to be unbiased. Perfect principle: the middle way is identical to all dharmas, and its principle is unbiased. Perfect wisdom: sarvākārajñatā (knowledge of all aspects) is perfect. Perfect severance: without severing, one severs the delusion of ignorance. Perfect practice: one practice is all practices. The perfect cause of the Mahāyāna and the perfect fruition of nirvāṇa are, right in cause and fruition, complete without lack—this is 'one practice is all practices.' Perfect stages: from the initial single stage, one is complete in the virtues of all stages. Perfect cause: illuminating both truths together, one naturally flows in. Perfect fruition: the fruition of wonderful enlightenment is inconceivable, and the three virtues are neither sequential nor lateral. Although there are eight meanings of 'perfect,' it is designated merely 'the perfect teaching' because without relying on the perfect teaching, one would not know the perfect principle, up to bringing to completion the perfect fruition. Question: If teaching and principle are perfect, how could there still be distinctions among practice, stages, cause, and fruition? Answer: It is precisely relying on teaching and principle being perfect that there are the distinctions of wisdom, severance, practice, stages, cause, and fruition. Just as in a worldly book of calligraphy, the exemplar of supreme skill admits of gradual gradations among those who cultivate and study it; although a beginner's practice is inferior to later practice, the exemplar itself has never differed.