宗鏡錄 17.9

17.9

Answer: First, through the predominant condition power of the seeds of the Tathāgata's compassion and fundamental vows and merits, sentient beings who have previously had conditions with the Buddha are caused to be mindful of the Buddha and cultivate contemplation, accumulating all blessings and wisdom and all myriad virtues. Taking this merit-power as cause and condition, their own citta evokes and manifests the Buddha-body coming to welcome them. It is not that the Buddhas actually dispatch a transformation body to come and welcome them. It is only through the power of the seeds of merit and the fundamental vows, because the timing and capacity of the sentient beings to be transformed properly coincide, that their own citta is caused to see the Buddha coming to welcome them. Thus the Buddha-body is clear and ever-quiescent, having no going or coming. The conscious mind of sentient beings, relying on the superior power of the Buddha's fundamental vows and merits, transforms in its own citta into having coming and going. It is like an image in a mirror, like actions performed in a dream: the form in the mirror is neither inside nor outside; the matter in the dream is neither existent nor non-existent. It is merely one's own citta, having nothing to do with the Buddha's transformation. Thus, 'no coming and no going' is spoken with regard to the merits of the Buddhas; 'having departing and returning' is spoken in terms of the mind-characteristics of sentient beings. Hence we know that when pure karma matures, the eyes behold the Buddha-body; when evil retribution is about to form, the citta manifests hells. Just as one with merit holds gravel and it becomes gold, while a person impoverished by karma turns gold into gravel: gravel is not gold, yet gold appears; gold is not gravel, yet gravel is produced. The production of gold is merely the production of the citta; the appearance of gravel arises solely from the citta. The transformation lies with me—whence would gold and gravel come? Those harboring doubts should understand this principle.