宗鏡錄 18.9

18.9

Answer: If one clearly understands this citta, it is precisely the naturally genuine Buddha; one does not speak of attaining or not attaining [buddhahood]. If one speaks of attaining buddhahood, this is an auxiliary term, and also an exaggerated term. The Scripture of Complete Enlightenment says: 'Within the wondrous completely enlightened citta of all tathāgatas, there is fundamentally neither bodhi nor nirvāṇa, nor is there attaining buddhahood or not attaining buddhahood, nor delusional saṃsāra or non-saṃsāra, and so forth.' Explanation: 'Fundamentally neither bodhi nor nirvāṇa'—these are names for the two kinds of transformation of the basis (āśrayaparivṛtti), and are also terms for abiding in contemplation. Transforming kleśa, one therefore establishes the designation of bodhi; transforming birth and death, one therefore obtains the name of nirvāṇa. If one clearly understands that the nature of kleśa is empty and birth and death are fundamentally quiescent, then since there is no characteristic of that which is transformed, neither is there any name for that which is able to transform. 'Nor not attaining buddhahood' means there is no delusional saṃsāra; 'nor attaining buddhahood' means there is no non-saṃsāra. There is solely the wondrous completely enlightened citta, and nothing else besides. At present, one fears only not obtaining the illumination of the mirror of the source; if one obtains its illumination, one will naturally enter the gate of complete enlightenment and universally illuminate the dharmadhātu. Therefore an ancient worthy said: 'If the flying staff treads the path to the homeland, / Worry not that under heaven no sound will be heard.' Layman Pang's verse says: / 'From the ten directions they gather as one assembly, / Each learning the unconditioned. / This is the venue for selecting buddhas; / When the citta penetrates, one passes the examination and returns.' / In this way, one naturally passes the examination in response to a single thought and graduates everywhere; why must one receive a prediction and wait to spread one's fame? As an ancient song says: / 'Not sitting in dhyāna, not upholding the Vinaya, / The wish-fulfilling pearl of wondrous enlightenment is white as the sun. / Its intrinsic substance is empty and mysterious, without a single thing; / Who is there to receive [a prediction from] Dīpaṃkara Buddha?'