宗鏡錄 53.24

53.24

答。緣者。是緣藉之義。境有二義。一所藉義。二所照義。言所藉者。如緣有體境。藉彼為所緣緣故。言所照者。雖不藉彼為所緣。然是所照矚處。亦說為境。如眼等五根照色等境。雖非所緣。然對此根。得名為境。是所照故。又眼根照色。眼識緣色。乃至身根覺觸。身識了觸等。

Answer: 'Conditioning' (pratyaya) has the meaning of relying on conditions. 'Object' (viṣaya) has two meanings: first, the meaning of that which is relied upon; second, the meaning of that which is illuminated. As for 'that which is relied upon,' it is like conditioning an object with substantial entity, relying upon it as the object-condition (ālambanapratyaya). As for 'that which is illuminated,' although one does not rely upon it as an intentional object, nevertheless it is the place illuminated and observed, so it is also called an object. For instance, the five sense faculties, such as the eye, illuminate objects such as form; although these are not intentional objects, nevertheless in relation to these faculties they obtain the name of 'objects,' because they are what is illuminated. Moreover, the eye faculty illuminates form, while the eye consciousness conditions form, and so on up to the body faculty perceiving touch, while the body consciousness apprehends touch, and so forth.