天台八教大意 1.41

1.41

Next, to clarify the sagely stages: the forty-two grades universally dismantle the subtle ignorance outside the realms. First entering the ten abodes, one dismantles ten grades of ignorance, realizes the perfect buddha-nature, and opens the buddha's knowledge and vision. Hence the Avataṃsaka says: 'At the time of first arousing the mind, one immediately accomplishes right awakening; the true and real nature is not awakened through another.' This is precisely this meaning. Realizing the first single stage, one can already replicate bodies in a hundred buddha worlds, manifesting physical bodies everywhere in the forms of the ten realms to establish conversions according to capacity. From the second abode onward, ten stages are added to the preceding, up to wondrous enlightenment in ineffable realms, where the origin is high and the traces are low, manifesting samādhis everywhere. Next, entering the ten practices, one dismantles ten more grades, demonstrating the buddha's knowledge and vision. Next, entering the ten dedications, one dismantles ten more grades, awakening to the buddha's knowledge and vision. Next, entering the ten stages, one advances to dismantle ten grades, entering the buddha's knowledge and vision. Although it is like this when discussed vertically, when discussed horizontally, each and every one fully possesses the opening, demonstrating, awakening, and entering into the buddha's knowledge and vision. Next, dismantling one grade, one enters virtual enlightenment; thereafter dismantling one grade, one enters wondrous enlightenment. Mondrous enlightenment is unsurpassed, leaving nothing further to discuss. The principle is equal from beginning to end, hence it is called 'perfect'; yet in terms of phenomena there are still distinctions, hence various stages are divided. It is like the nature of wetness: ice and water are no different, yet when melting ice into water, beginning and end are distinctly present.