四教義 5.9

5.9

Sixth, elucidating the stage of the dharma of forbearance: this is also the wholesome five aggregates, and also of the nature of wisdom; being patient with and rejoicing in the four truths, it is named the stage of the dharma of forbearance. In the stage of the summit dharma, using correct expedient means to diligently cultivate and enhance the goodness of the summit dharma, relying on the concentrations of the six grounds, if the wholesome roots of the summit dharma increase, compliant forbearance is then born, also taking the sixteen aspects of the four truths as objects. At that time, the five wholesome dharmas of faith and the rest all become faculties; due to the faculty of wisdom, one is patient with and rejoices in the four noble truths, hence it is named the dharma of forbearance. The dharma of forbearance has three grades: lower forbearance, contemplating in accordance with the dharma-truths among the sixteen aspects; middle forbearance, contemplating with respect to subsequent truths, reducing the contemplation in ten cycles; upper forbearance, contemplating only the four aspects under suffering in the desire realm, taking just one aspect as the object of contemplation. With the lower and middle two grades of forbearance, although afflictions and unwholesome karma arise, one does not receive retribution in the three destinies, but still receives retribution for hundreds of thousands of lives among humans and gods. When the upper grade of forbearance is perfected, only karma for seven lives among humans and gods remains; advancing by one single moment of thought, one immediately enters the highest mundane dharma. Question: Warmth and summit are also patient; why are they not called patient? Answer: If speaking generally of the four wholesome roots, they are also named four forbearances; but the dharma of forbearance does not regress, so it distinctively receives the name of forbearance. If at the dharma of warmth one encounters bad conditions and regresses, one can commit the five rebellious acts, slander the Vaipulya sūtras, become an icchantika, and fall into the Avīci hell. If one regresses at the summit dharma, encountering bad conditions and regressing, although one does not sever wholesome roots, one still commits sins such as the five rebellious acts. Now in this dharma of forbearance, wisdom is strong and delusions are weak; it cannot be moved by any evil. Because the power of forbearance is great, all unwholesome minds are extinguished without analytical cessation, like the lion king whom herds of beasts avoid from afar. Question: If warmth and summit can regress, how are they named the stage of nature? Answer: Although such a person commits evil and falls into hell, once having entered and undergone the punishment, they will never enter again; because they possess the wholesome roots of the stage of nature, they are able to attain the noble fruit. Therefore a sūtra states: 'Better to be Devadatta than Udraka Rāmaputra.' Devadatta committed three rebellious sins and fell into hell, but when born among humans, he will become a pratyekabuddha, with faculties so sharp and vigorous they surpass Śāriputra's.