宗鏡錄 24.7
English (machine translation) 24.7
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24.7.1
He replied: "The buddhas of the ten directions share one dharmakāya; why must there be two? Moreover, the three bodies and ten bodies are spoken of in accordance with function; judging by their fundamental nature, there is only one body. It is like a dark room yearning for light, which shines in accordance with the apertures: although the lights are manifold, that which is their origin is one—namely, the true dharmakāya. It also manifests in accordance with capacities, with different forms and marks. As a verse in the 'Manifestation' chapter says: / 'Just as the Brahmā King abides in his own palace, / Yet manifests universally throughout the three-thousandfold realms of Brahmā, / Seen by all humans and devas, / Without truly dividing his body to go to them; / The manifestation of the bodies of all buddhas is also like this: / Pervading all the ten directions without exception. / Their bodies are innumerable and incalculable, / Yet they neither divide their bodies nor make discriminations.' / Thus we know that it is not that another buddha's wisdom pervades oneself, but rather that one's own buddha-wisdom pervades others. Nor is it that one's own cause proceeds to another's fruit; originally, it is that another's fruit receives my cause. Thus cause and effect are simultaneous; ordinary and sage are of one boundary. For this reason, by understanding that there are no dual characteristics, one can transcend the realm of Māra; by not grasping a single dharma, one abides peacefully in the Buddha vehicle. If one grasps characteristics, one sinks into the ocean of the six entries; if one gives rise to thoughts, one casts oneself into the fortress of the five aggregates. These are all sentient beings following their discriminating feelings and giving rise to views of self and other; then the reflections divide into many moons, and their traces take on various forms. Not departing from the one true [reality], each manifests in the water of citta. Therefore Master Rong said: 'Not departing from the five aggregates, there is a buddha.' The sūtra says: 'As is citta, so is the buddha; as is the buddha, so are sentient beings.' It also says: 'To seek bodhi apart from citta is like heaven and earth; how could there be a sixteen-foot body? The body has no sixteen feet.' The *Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitāsūtra* says: 'One does not take the body to be the buddha; one takes sarvākārajñatā to be the buddha. If the marks and signs were the buddha, a wheel-turning king would be one.' Now, for so many people, the buddha within their bodies—why do they not see it? Because of kleśas. The sūtra says: 'Sentient beings endowed with kleśas, though close, do not see; it is only inside the body, very close yet they do not see.' Furthermore, because we lack wisdom, we do not realize that within our inner garment there is a priceless jewel. As for 'citta', it means 'faith' [or 'verification']; that is, there is preceding consciousness, and dharmas operate following characteristics, so that kleśas are called consciousness, not citta. 'Manas' means 'recollection': recollecting and conceptualizing preceding objects gives rise to delusion; these are all deluded consciousness, having nothing to do with citta. Citta is neither existent nor non-existent; existence and non-existence do not taint it. Citta is neither defiled nor pure; defilement and purity do not soil it. Up to deluded or awakened, ordinary or sage, walking, coming, going, or staying—all are deluded consciousness and not citta. Citta fundamentally is unproduced, and now also does not cease. If one knows one's own citta to be like this, the buddha is also thus. Therefore it is said: 'The straight mind is the bodhimanda, because it is free of falsity.' The sūtra says: 'Such is the body of the world; the bodies of the buddhas are also thus. Completely knowing its self-nature: this is called a buddha.' Therefore one body and immeasurable bodies all share the same buddha-substance, because their principle of naturelessness is identical. For this reason, Master Zhi said: 'At the hour of eating, avidyā originally is the body of Śākya. Sitting and lying, not knowing it is originally the Way—why rush about in haste enduring bitter toil?' The *Huayan siji* says: 'From "Thus have I heard" onwards, up to everything in all sūtras—the assemblies of bodhisattvas, the assemblies of śrāvakas, the ornaments, flowers, banners, streamers, canopies, the seven precious jewels, and the like—all arise from the Tathāgata's pure karma, or are designated by names of dharmas or names of clouds; all are matters within the pure citta. Mañjuśrī is sentient beings' actively operating discriminating citta. Samantabhadra is sentient beings' citta of karmic action amid worldly toil. Avalokiteśvara is sentient beings' citta of great compassion. Mahāsthāmaprāpta is sentient beings' citta of resolve and wisdom. As the *Avataṃsakasūtra* says: "Mañjuśrī in all places": although Mañjuśrī comes from the east, he is immediately in all places, because he is the body of the dharmadhātu and unmoving wisdom. Meeting an object, it is understood; the six sense organs and three karmas are all Mañjuśrī. The substance of true reality is all-pervading; the myriad images densely arrayed are nothing other than prajñā. Where is there a single place that is not Mañjuśrī?' The *Vimalakīrti Commentary* says: 'Bodhisattva Samādhivaśavartirāja: using the three contemplations in one mind, being able to contemplate the citta-nature, is called supreme samādhi. Attaining this supreme samādhi, one attains mastery over all conventional and ultimate dhyānas and samādhis, like a king. Bodhisattva Ratnarāśi: through the three contemplations in one mind, correctly contemplating that although the citta-nature is empty, it is fully endowed with the collection of dharma-jewels of myriad practices; therefore he is named Ratnarāśi. Bodhisattva Vicitrasaṃbhava: contemplating that citta is unproduced, then all dharmas are unproduced; prajñā wonderfully arises. Therefore the sūtra says: "Form is not produced; prajñā is produced." Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara: the *Qing Guanyin jing* says: "Contemplate the pulse of the heart, focusing the thought in one place; then one sees Avalokiteśvara." For bodhisattvas such as these, in accordance with pointing out one contemplation gate, they are distinctively labeled with a bodhisattva's name to guide beings back to citta. If one person completely possesses all contemplation gates, then the names are mutually interchangeable; this is equality of syllables, equality of words, equality of bodies, and equality of dharmas. Because all dharmas are originally nameless, that they have names without names is all because they arise from citta; citta is names. Those who are able to understand like this will see all bodhisattvas and buddhas within the correctly contemplating citta. Up to the ten great disciples among the śrāvakas, they are all the ten wholesome mental factors of one's own citta.' It also says: 'The ten mental factors: a verse from the Abhidharma of the Tripiṭaka teachings says: / "Saṃjñā, chanda, sparśa, prajñā, / Smṛti, cetanā, and adhimokṣa, / Manaskāra towards sense objects, / Samādhi together with vedanā; / These caitasikas are common to the entire ground." / Assisting the mind-king, they give rise to all states of mind. The mental factors are like a state having ten ministers who together assist a single ruler. If the ruler and ministers together practice what is not the Way, the people in the state will all do evil. If ruler and ministers assist one another to practice proper governance, the people in the state will all possess the Way. Now sentient beings have a mind-king, common to the ten mental factors. If thought is unwholesome, then immeasurable unwholesome, kleśa-laden mental factors will arise. If the mind-king and the ten factors assist one another in thinking wholesome thoughts, then immeasurable wholesome mental factors of merit and wisdom will arise. Furthermore, the mind-king is the master, and the ten factors are the ten disciples. If master and disciple together commit evil, they will transform all people into doing evil; if master and disciple together perform good...'
24.7.2
...then they transform all people to cultivate good. The mind-king and the ten mental factor phenomena are also like this. Therefore, this sūtra says: 'The disciples are the multitudes of defilements, which turn according to the intention.' Now, all sentient beings possess the mind-king and the ten universal mental factor phenomena. If they encounter heavenly māras and non-Buddhists with their discourses of craving and discourses of views, they immediately give rise to various kleśas and wander in saṃsāra, just as if transformed by an evil ruler, evil ministers, an evil master, and evil disciples. Now the Buddha is the Dharma King, and the ten disciples are the Dharma ministers; that is, they are the master of the true Dharma and the disciples of the true Dharma. Using wisdom-practice and conduct-practice, they practice the true Dharma and together transform sentient beings. As for the mind-king and the ten universal mental factor phenomena: if sentient beings faithfully accept them and cultivate wisdom-practice, then the various kleśas of discourses of views are extinguished, and all the immeasurable good mental factor phenomena of the path of seeing are accomplished. If sentient beings faithfully accept them and cultivate conduct-practice, then all the unwholesome mental factor phenomena of heavenly māras and saṃsāra are broken, and the immeasurable good mental factor phenomena of the path of cultivation are accomplished. Therefore, a sūtra says: 'If the mind-king is upright, then the six ministers will not be corrupt.' Furthermore, these ten factors are themselves ten Dharma approaches, all capable of leading into nirvāṇa. At first, one takes the ten factors as seeds; cultivating from this, one eventually attains the realization of the Way, just as a tree of embrace-breadth begins from a tiny sprout. Now the Dharma King wishes to transform all sentient beings with the teachings of the half and full; he must first accord with their desires. Therefore, this sūtra says: 'First pull them with the hook of desire, and later cause them to enter the Buddha's wisdom.' Now, as for the ten disciples each propagating one Dharma: people gather according to kind, and things divide into groups; according to their desires, they each use one practice and Dharma approach to gather them as retinue. Although each holds one Dharma approach, how could they ever fail to possess the ten virtues? Just as with the ten mental factors: whenever one arises, the ten factors immediately arise along with it; although one factor is used to assume the name, in truth there are ten factors. Matching them specifically to the ten disciples: First, the factor of saṃjñā corresponds to Pūrṇa. His factor of saṃjñā was especially predominant, and he entered the Way through saṃjñā; therefore, among the śrāvaka disciples, he is foremost in explaining the Dharma. The *Tattvasiddhiśāstra* says: 'Consciousness apprehends real dharmas; saṃjñā apprehends conventional designations.' Pūrṇa used the factor of saṃjñā clearly and distinctly, and therefore was able to distinguish names and characteristics without obstruction, his eloquence unhindered; among those who explain the Dharma, he is the most foremost. The factor of chanda corresponds to Mahākāśyapa. Because he entered the Way by using the factor of wholesome chanda, among all disciples, he is foremost in dhūta [practices]. For all wholesome dharmas, chanda is the root. Kāśyapa cut off worldly glory and set his aspiration on the essentials of renunciation, delighting in mountain forests; this is the arising of the mind of wholesome chanda, abandoning the evil desires of the world. Further delight corresponds to Kātyāyana. He immediately gave rise to this factor, examining and investigating doctrinal principles to enter the Way; therefore, among the śrāvakas, he is foremost in debate. In questions and answers back and forth, mutually interpenetrating, his debate of principles was inexhaustible, without obstruction or deficiency; because he specifically cultivated the factor of further delight, he was able to be like this. The factor of prajñā corresponds to Śāriputra. Because he entered the Way by using the factor of prajñā, among all śrāvakas, he is foremost in wisdom, the general of the Dharma wheel. The factor of smṛti corresponds to Upāli. He entered the Way by using smṛti to uphold the Vinaya; among all śrāvakas, he is foremost in upholding the Vinaya. Remembering and maintaining without forgetting is called smṛti. Upāli, facing conditions with body and speech, weighed light and heavy without forgetfulness or loss; he was supreme in upholding the Vinaya. The factor of cetanā corresponds to Rāhula. Because of secret practices he entered the Way; among all śrāvakas, he is foremost in esoteric practices. The aggregate of saṃskāra is precisely the factor of cetanā. If the factor of cetanā is sharp, one cultivates various practices of precepts and conceals merits; he was supreme in esoteric practices. Liberation corresponds to Subhūti. Because he used this factor and Dharma to cultivate the liberation of emptiness and enter the Way, among all śrāvakas, he is foremost in understanding emptiness. With the samādhi of non-dispute, aloof and uniquely liberated, he did not vie with things. Attention to the realm and the factor of smṛti correspond to Aniruddha. Because he lost his eyes, the Buddha caused him to give rise to this factor and cultivate the divine eye to enter the Way; therefore, among the śrāvakas, he is foremost in the divine eye. Now, cultivating the divine eye must rely on abiding the mind in conditions of the realm, taking the marks of the light of the sun, moon, and stars to cultivate, bringing forth the supernormal knowledge of the divine eye. The factor of samādhi corresponds to Maudgalyāyana. His factor of concentration was especially sharp, and he cultivated this concentration to advance on the Way; therefore, among all śrāvakas, he is foremost in dhyāna concentration. The factor of vedanā corresponds to Ānanda. Because his factor of vedanā was strong and sharp, he listened to, received, and retained [the teachings] to enter the Way; therefore, among all śrāvakas, he is foremost in erudition and dhāraṇī. 'Vedanā' is commonly said to be reception, taking receiving and experiencing as its meaning; this factor clearly and distinctly receives and upholds the Buddhadharma, like an intact vessel holding water. These ten factor disciples together assist the Tathāgata, adorning the teachings of the half and full, and the four witherings and four flourishings, leading sentient beings into the Middle Way, seeing the Buddha-nature, and abiding in great nirvāṇa—which is precisely abiding in inconceivable liberation. Thus one knows that whether real practices of self-benefit or provisional approaches of benefiting others, whether master or disciple, whether teaching or contemplation, they never go beyond the Dharma approaches of sentient beings' mental factors. One by one they equally return to the mirror of the source, up to all spoken principles, stages of practice, and cultivations; all are citta, and there is none not encompassed. This is because all speech arises from the mind of vitarka and vicāra, all practices arise from the mind of cetanā, and all doctrinal principles arise from the mind of prajñā. Furthermore, the mind-king is the Buddha jewel; the mental factors are the Saṅgha jewel; and the ultimate reality of what is cognized, where there is neither king nor factors, is the Dharma jewel. Skillfully entering ultimate reality, the power and function of king and factors are fully complete. That citta and mental factors do not function is therefore called practicing the perfection of prajñā. The *Samantabhadra Contemplation* says: 'Contemplating citta, there is no citta; phenomena do not abide in phenomena. My citta is naturally empty; offenses and blessings have no master.' This is precisely having neither citta nor factors, which is called correct contemplation. If these defilements of mental factors are not exhausted, contemplation is not finished. Therefore, a sūtra says: 'If sentient beings are not delivered, I will not accomplish correct awakening.' This is precisely what it means. If one can understand like this, there is not a single Buddha or bodhisattva name, nor a single Dharma approach, that does not appear in the mind of correct contemplation. Therefore, the *Lotus Sūtra* says: 'If there is someone who believes what you say, then they see me.'
24.7.3
…[I] also see you, as well as the saṅgha of monks and all the bodhisattvas. Why is this? Hearing the sūtra, the citta believes without doubt; to awaken to this clear and pure citta of faith is precisely to see the Buddha. When the mental factor (caitta) of prajñā is distinct and clear, that is seeing Śāriputra. When all mental factors are distinct and clear, that is seeing the assembly of monks. When the citta of loving-kindness and compassion is pure, that is seeing the bodhisattvas. Venerable Huangbo said: 'All buddhas and all sentient beings are solely the one mind; there is no other dharma besides it. The awakened citta is it: this one mind alone is the Buddha; to see this citta is to see the Buddha. The Buddha is precisely the citta; the citta is precisely sentient beings; sentient beings are precisely the Buddha; the Buddha is precisely the citta. When being a sentient being, this citta does not decrease; when being a Buddha, this citta does not increase. Just awaken to the one mind, and there is not the slightest dharma to be obtained; this is the true Buddha. Mañjuśrī corresponds to the principle of true emptiness without obstruction; Samantabhadra corresponds to the inexhaustible practice that transcends characteristics. What all great bodhisattvas represent, everyone possesses; it is not separate from the one mind. To awaken to it is it. If one can only be without citta (mind-less), that is the ultimate. If practitioners of the Way do not immediately become without citta, though they practice for accumulated kalpas, in the end they will not accomplish the Way. It is not as good as recognizing one's own fundamental dharma right under the words. This dharma is citta; outside of citta there is no dharma. Cut off all deliberation; hence it is said: "The path of speech is cut off, and the place of citta's movement is extinguished." This citta is the fundamentally pure Buddha. The squirming and crawling beasts are of one identical substance with buddhas and bodhisattvas; it is only because of false thoughts and discrimination that they create various karmic fruits. On the fundamental Buddha there is truly not a single thing: open, unobstructed, tranquil, brilliantly wondrous, peaceful and joyful—nothing more. Just recognize the fundamental citta in seeing, hearing, perceiving, and knowing; yet the fundamental citta does not belong to seeing, hearing, perceiving, and knowing, nor is it separate from seeing, hearing, perceiving, and knowing. Simply do not generate views on seeing, hearing, perceiving, and knowing, nor seek the citta apart from seeing, hearing, perceiving, and knowing. It is neither identical nor separate, neither abiding nor attached. When worldly people hear the path that all buddhas transmit the citta-dharma, they assume that apart from citta there is another dharma that can be realized and attained, and thereupon use citta to seek dharma, not knowing that citta is dharma and dharma is citta. One cannot use citta to further seek citta; passing through thousands of kalpas, there will never be a day of attainment. It is not as good as being without citta right now, which is the fundamental dharma.' Even leaving the household does not go beyond the ground of a single thought-moment of citta. Thus, the gāthā of Venerable Xiangyan says: 'Always seeking to leave the household, / yet not understanding the name "leaving the household." / Rising and sitting are just ordinary; / there is nothing superior in the least.' Because outside of citta there is no separate dharma of leaving the household, what superior realm could there be to seek? Therefore, the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa-sūtra says: 'Without benefit and without merit: this is called leaving the household.' Thus, Ānanda had not awakened to this source, but merely looked upon the Tathāgata's superior characteristics and sought to leave the household bodily; he subsequently repented, saying: 'Although my body has left the household, my citta has not entered the Way.' The Tiantai teachings state: 'Contemplate the single thought-moment of citta as pure like empty space, unobstructed by the shackles of the two extremes; equal great prajñā, without abiding and without attachment: this is called leaving the household. Sustaining the dharmakāya and the life of wisdom by oneself through the middle contemplation is called being a mendicant (bhikṣu). Contemplating the five abiding kleśas as bodhi is called destroying evil. All extremes and inversions being nothing other than the Middle Way is scaring Māra.' The verse of Tiantai Shide says: 'Non-anger is keeping precepts; / purity of citta is leaving the household. / My nature unites with yours; / all dharmas are without difference.' For someone who has left the dust, the citta does not depend on things; hence a sūtra says: 'Leaving the household is unconstrained and vast, just like empty space.' Master Zhi's song says: 'Under the words, seeking nothing, without a location, / for the time being is called a home-leaver.' Therefore, a predecessor of virtue said: 'If you have awakened to this matter, just wear clothes and eat food in accord with the times, moving freely at ease.' Therefore, one knows that this matter is known only to oneself; there are no other skillful means. Hence it is said: 'Every drink and every peck has its assigned portion.' How could it not be that awakening to citta is leaving the household, not attained through external affairs? It is also said: 'Contemplating that within each citta, both king and factors are fully present. For the sake of accomplishing contemplation, the mind-king and mental factors assist each other to attain awakening. Either one enters the Way through the factor of samjñā (conception), or one enters the Way through the factor of chanda (desire); according to what is appropriate, the mind-king and mental factors attack together, transforming and taking the cittas of dusty afflictions to perform Buddha-work. When one performs this contemplation without awakening, the contemplative practice is like milk. If one brings forth uncontaminated contemplative practice, it is like curd. If one shatters the delusions as numerous as sands of dust, it is like raw and cooked butter. If the contemplation shatters avidyā, it is like ghee. When reaching ghee, the work of the king and factors is complete.' A gāthā in the Mahāratnakūṭa-sūtra says: 'When the Tathāgata contemplates sentient beings / who are established in the Dharma, / because their citta can know citta, / they are true Buddha-sons.' Therefore, it is said that they are born from the Buddha's mouth, born by transformation from the Dharma. Because they know citta, all dharma-gates are as if in the palm of their hand; for those who do not yet know, they provide skillful explanations to cause them all to believe and enter. Within this Mirror of the Source, there is not a single dharma that is not a Buddha-work. Regarding eating and drinking as Buddha-work, the Commentary on Vimalakīrtinirdeśa says: 'One who is equal with respect to dharmas is also equal with respect to food. As the Mahāprajñāpāramitā-sūtra says: "All dharmas tend toward flavor; this tendency is unsurpassable. Since flavor is still unobtainable, how could there be tending or non-tending?" Now it says that all dharmas tend toward flavor, and flavor is food. One should know that food is the inconceivable dharmadhātu. Because food contains and embraces all dharmas, all dharmas do not go beyond the dharmadhātu of food. If food exists, all dharmas exist. If food does not exist, all dharmas do not exist. Now, because food is inconceivable, it is not even seen as existent; how could there be tending? It is not even seen as non-existent; how could there be non-tending? If, in contemplating food, one sees neither tending nor non-tending, this is the Middle Way samādhi, called the food of true Dharma-joy and dhyāna-delight. Being able to thoroughly penetrate the dharmas of tending and non-tending is illuminating both of the two truths, obtaining the food of Dharma-joy and dhyāna-delight of the two-truths samādhi: this is called equality of food. That all dharmas are also equal means that all dharmas tend toward the skandhas, āyatanas, and dhātus, up to sarvākārajñatā. Because the skandhas, āyatanas, dhātus, and sarvākārajñatā are unobtainable, how could there be tending or non-tending? And that they are fully and distinctly endowed with tending and non-tending means that all dharmas possess the principle of the three truths, as explained in the Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa.'
24.7.4
In a single kṣaṇa, there is the metaphor of the three characteristics: arising, abiding, and cessation. Furthermore, it is like the fragrant rice of the Buddha land of Fragrance Accumulation (Gandhahastin / Sarvagandhasugandhadharā). A sūtra says: 'For one endowed with the merits of inexhaustible morality, concentration, wisdom, liberation, and the knowledge and vision of liberation, the leftovers of what is eaten can never be exhausted.' Since the principle of the one mind's tathatā is inexhaustible, and by the function of perfuming that nurtures the fivefold dharmakāya, its own substance is empty of nature and an unconditioned, wondrous function—how could it ever be exhausted? It also says: 'If those who have not yet generated the aspiration for the Mahāyāna eat this rice, it is only digested once they generate the aspiration. If those who have already generated the aspiration eat this rice, it is only digested once they attain the anutpattikadharmakṣānti. If those who have already attained the anutpattikadharmakṣānti eat this rice, it is only digested once they reach the stage of being bound to one life [before awakening]. Just as there is a medicine called Superior Flavor: whoever takes it, all poisons in their body are eliminated, and only then is it digested. This rice is just like that: it eliminates all the poisons of the kleśas, and only then is it digested.' This is like the great bodhisattvas: although they cast off lives and take rebirth, in their subsequent bodies there are seeds within their consciousness. When the seeds encounter conditions, the fragrant rice arises again, continuous and unbroken, flowing up to the first bhūmi; then, generating the outflow-free mind, they sever delusion and realize the true, which is termed 'digestion'—it is not that the rice being consumed and destroyed is termed 'digestion.' Therefore, we know that for whoever eats this rice, what phenomenon is not digested? It also says: 'Bodhisattvas of that land enter the discipline upon smelling the fragrance, immediately obtaining the samādhi of the treasury of all virtues. For those who attain this samādhi, all merits of a bodhisattva are completely fulfilled.' Therefore, if one enters the dharmadhātu through fragrance, one's own body is itself the World of Multitudinous Fragrances, and one's own mind is itself the Fragrance Accumulation Tathāgata. Innumerable merits are perfected within the one mind; for one who awakens to and enters this, what need is there to seek externally? If it is thus for the sensory realm of fragrance, it is also the same for the eighteen dhātus: all are abodes of the spirit, and all are places for attaining the Way. As Ānanda said to the Buddha: 'It is unprecedented, World-Honoured One! This fragrant rice can perform Buddha-work.' The Buddha said: 'So it is, so it is, Ānanda. There are Buddha lands that perform Buddha-work through the light of the Buddha; some perform Buddha-work through bodhisattvas; some perform Buddha-work through emanations created by the Buddha; some perform Buddha-work through the Bodhi Tree; some perform Buddha-work through the Buddha's robes and bedding; some perform Buddha-work through food and drink; some perform Buddha-work through gardens, groves, and watchtowers; some perform Buddha-work through the thirty-two major marks and eighty minor signs; some perform Buddha-work through the Buddha's body; some perform Buddha-work through empty space, so that through this condition sentient beings can enter the practice of discipline; some perform Buddha-work through such metaphors as dreams, illusions, shadows, echoes, images in a mirror, the moon in water, or a mirage in the heat; some perform Buddha-work through sounds, spoken words, and written letters; and there are pure Buddha lands that perform Buddha-work through stillness, wordlessness, silence, lack of demonstration and discernment, and non-action and non-fabrication. In this way, Ānanda, all the deportment, movements, and actions of the Buddhas are nothing other than Buddha-work. Ānanda, there are these four māras and the eighty-four thousand doors of kleśas by which sentient beings are wearied; the Buddhas use precisely these dharmas to perform Buddha-work. This is called entering the dharma-door of all Buddhas. When a bodhisattva enters this door, if they see all pure and fine Buddha lands, they do not take delight in them, nor are they greedy or arrogant; if they see all impure Buddha lands, they do not feel distressed, nor are they obstructed or despondent. They merely generate a pure mind toward the Buddhas, with joy and reverence, [regarding it as] unprecedented. The merits of the Buddhas and Tathāgatas are equal; yet in order to teach and transform sentient beings, they manifest different Buddha lands. Ānanda, you see that the lands of the Buddhas are various, yet empty space is not various; likewise, you see that the physical bodies of the Buddhas are various, yet their unobstructed wisdom is not various.' Furthermore, in the Avataṃsakasūtra, the upāsikā Samantagambhīrāṭā attained the bodhisattva liberation-door of the inexhaustible treasury of blessings and virtue: she was able, from such a single small vessel, in accordance with the various desires and pleasures of sentient beings, to bring forth and fully satisfy them with various delicious foods and drinks, extending even to the east, where in worlds as numerous as the dust motes of ineffable-ineffable Buddha lands, all bodhisattvas bound to one life, having eaten her food, all sat in the bodhimaṇḍa under the Bodhi Tree, subjugated the realm of māras, and attained anuttarā samyaksaṃbodhi. As in the east, so too in the south, west, north, the four intermediate directions, the zenith, and the nadir. Furthermore, the householder Vidvān attained the liberation-door of the treasury of blessings and virtue that manifests at will: at that time, knowing that the assembly was universally gathered, the householder focused his mind for a moment and looked up into empty space; whatever they required all fell from space, completely satisfying the entire great assembly. Then he further expounded various dharmas for them: to those who were satisfied by receiving delicious food, he expounded the practices of accumulating various blessings and virtues, the practice of leaving poverty behind, the practice of knowing all phenomena, the practice of accomplishing the food of dharma joy and dhyāna delight, the practice of cultivating and perfecting all marks and signs, the practice of increasing and accomplishing that which is difficult to subdue, the practice of skillfully penetrating the unsurpassed food, and the practice of accomplishing inexhaustible great majestic power to subdue the adversaries of māra; to those who were satisfied by receiving fine drink, he expounded the Dharma for them, causing them to abandon attachment to birth and death and enter the flavor of the Buddha's Dharma, and so forth. Now, from within the upāsikā's vessel and from the householder Vidvān's empty sky, boundless delicacies emerged at will, and numerous fine foods rained down through focused mindfulness: all who came seeking had their needs met; those who received them fully realized the dharma-doors; and those who ate them all achieved the wondrous Way. It may indeed be said that there is not a single dust mote that does not fully possess Buddha-work, nor a single phenomenon that does not completely fulfill the orthodox source. Yet in accordance with the minds of sentient beings, corresponding to the measure of what they know, things manifest in following their karma, and what is seen differs: non-Buddhists see it as nature (svabhāva); ordinary beings see it as birth and death; śrāvakas see it as the four truths; pratyekabuddhas see it as conditioned origination; minor bodhisattvas see it as mere emptiness; great bodhisattvas see it as the Middle Way; and the Buddhas see it as the real mark. If one enters the mirror of the source, all views melt together. As for visible matter being Buddha-work:
24.7.5
For instance, King Bimbisāra, because the Buddha emitted five-colored light from his mouth to illuminate the crown of his head, later realized the fruit of anāgāmin. Or again, like Ratnakūṭa and the other five hundred elders, seeing the Buddha's pure land, realized the forbearance of the non-arising of dharmas (anutpattikadharmakṣānti). This is [the case of] beholding form. As for the sense-datum of fragrance performing the Buddha-work: it is that the fragrant rice universally perfumed the great trichiliocosm as well as the desire and form realms, and all the devas, smelling the fragrance, entered the room. Furthermore, burning incense means that one shines forth with the fire of wisdom, because the myriad practices are universally pervasive. Anointing incense means blending it with the water of pure nature to adorn the dharmakāya. Powdered incense means using vajra-wisdom to shatter [all things] so that they lack real substance. Furthermore, like the meditations on compassion or on the impure that eradicate all evils, just as benzoin can ward off evil and heterodoxy, right view and wisdom leave no evil uneradicated. Furthermore, the ten wholesome actions and the like generate the fragrance of joy, like aloeswood and sandalwood; that is, gathering in faculties and capacities, practicing generosity to delight oneself and others, and so forth. As for the sense-datum of flavor performing the Buddha-work: those who eat this rice are physically tranquil and happy, just as in the Land of Joyful Adornment. As for the sense-datum of touch performing the Buddha-work: '[When he] stroked me with his hand, how joyful it was!' As for light performing the Buddha-work: the Nirvāṇa Sūtra says: 'Those who encounter this light have all kleśas completely eliminated.' Now, emitting light is nothing other than the light of the wisdom of the one mind, because it can illuminate the nature of the myriad dharmas, whereby one does not follow sense-objects and fall into their foolish darkness. As the Ocean of Meaning states: 'To reveal light means that when seeing the phenomenon and principle of the tathatā of the dharmadhātu of dust-objects, they are manifested clearly and distinctly. This is the illumination of the light of wisdom. If there is no light of wisdom, then principle and phenomena will not be revealed. Just seeing dharmas is itself the light. Because the merit of accumulated wisdom is complete, therefore emitting a single light leaves nothing in the dharmadhātu unrevealed. Constantly observing all dharmadhātus is emitting light to illuminate everything.' This light of the mirror of the source is precisely the ūrṇā-light of all buddhas, universally illuminating the dharmadhātu. As the Avataṃsaka Sūtra says: 'Between the brows of the Tathāgata there is the mark of a great man, named the Cloud of Light Pervading the Dharmadhātu, adorned with maṇi gem blossoms, emitting great light endowed with the colors of many gems, like the sun and the moon, thoroughly transparent and pure. Its light universally illuminates the lands of the ten directions, manifesting within them all buddha-bodies, and further emitting wondrous sounds proclaiming all dharmas.' The Lotus Sūtra says: '[The Buddha] emitted a single ūrṇā-light illuminating eighteen thousand buddha lands; within the light were seen all the bodhisattvas' adornments of the six pāramitās, the good and ugly retributions of sentient beings, and so forth.' It also says: '[He] emitted a pure light, illuminating immeasurable lands.' The Mahāyāna Sūtra of the Contemplation of the Mind-Ground in Past Lives says: 'At that time, in the assembly there was a bodhisattva named Lion's Roar. Beholding the Tathāgata emit a golden light, he gazed in the four directions at the ocean-like assembly, raised a great voice, and spoke these words: [...] "Up to: by this cause and condition, the Tathāgata will soon arise from samādhi and shall expound for us the wondrous Mahāyāna Dharma of the gate of contemplation of the mind-ground. I announce to the great assembly: [regarding] the immeasurable blissful happiness of all humans and devas, quickly seek world-transcending anuttarāsamyaksaṃbodhi! Why is this? Today the World-Honoured One, from within his chest, emits a golden light, and wherever it illuminates becomes golden. What the Buddha displays is profoundly deep in purport; all worldly śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas, exhausting their thought and reckoning, are unable to know it. You ordinary people do not contemplate your own mind; therefore you drift in the ocean of saṃsāra. The buddhas and bodhisattvas, because they can contemplate the mind, cross over the ocean of saṃsāra and arrive at the other shore. For the tathāgatas of the three times, the Dharma is entirely like this. The emission of this light is not without cause and condition."' Explanation: The golden light represents the source that is spoken of. Just as Mañjuśrī's dwelling-place and the southern face of Mount Sumeru are all of one single color, without any different tint, as the Ratnakaraṇḍa Sūtra says: 'Mañjuśrī said: "Venerable Subhūti, just as the places illuminated by the light of Mount Sumeru, King of Mountains, are all of one single color, namely golden; just so, Subhūti, the light of prajñā illuminates all saṃyojanas so that they are all of one single color, namely the color of the Buddha-Dharma."' This color of the mind can be said to be brighter than the sun and moon, its measure surpassing the great void; it illuminates and embraces, leaving no obscurity unexhausted. Therefore the Mahāprajñāpāramitā Sūtra says: 'If, for the dark worlds and the places between each world where the light of the sun, moon, and so forth does not illuminate, one would produce light, one should train in the prajñāpāramitā.' The Ratnakūṭa Sūtra says: 'I have a light named Non-arising; those who hold its name attain non-attainment.' The Treatise on the Avataṃsaka Sūtra says: 'The chapter "Awakening through Light" is to cause the faithful mind, through the light of its own mind, to awaken to and illuminate all the endless great trichiliocosms in all worlds, which altogether are the Buddha's realm, and oneself is also identical and equal to it. Following the light with the mind, it illuminates them one by one. Mind and object merge into one, and inner and outer views perish. After the initial great trichiliocosm, next turning again to the east as the head, the light reaches ten trichiliocosms in the eastern direction, illuminating a hundred great trichiliocosms. Thus, through the ten tiers of the ten directions, multiplied and redoubled, circling around, the ten directions are completely illuminated. Body and mind are of one single nature, unobstructed and universally pervasive, identical to the Buddha's realm. Intending each one, one observes like this, and then seals it with the samādhi of effortless skillful means. One enters the initial mind of the ten abodes, is born into the tathāgata's household of wisdom, and becomes a true son of the Dharma King of tathāgata wisdom. It is just as illuminated by the light, fully explained as in the sūtra. One must not assume that it is the Buddha's light and that oneself has no share in it. One must personally use the light of one's own mind like the Buddha's light, opening and awakening one's mind, completely illuminating the dharmadhātu.' The Avataṃsaka Commentary states: 'In the causal stage, distinguishing dharma-characteristics and decisively comprehending the true principle leaves neither principle nor phenomena lacking and does not diminish the Buddha-Dharma; therefore in a single thought one fully understands many gates. Hence, emitting a single light completely fulfills merit and wisdom.' The Nirvāṇa Commentary states: 'Emitting light to illuminate Mañjuśrī means seeing the form and knowing the mind; Mañjuśrī beheld the light and thereupon understood the Buddha's intention.' The Private Notes on the Vimalakīrti states: 'Sometimes light performs the Buddha-work. Why is it like this? Its substance pervades empty space and is identical to the dharmadhātu. Beasts and ants, sentient and insentient beings, are all sons of the Buddha. This is precisely the Dharma of liberation; it is precisely Mount Sumeru entering a mustard seed.'
24.7.6
According to the above explanation, one only then understands the sūtras spoken by the Buddha to be identical to the view of Vimalakīrti, not like that of the two vehicles who merely see the liberation of emptiness. The Lotus Sūtra says: 'Merely departing from delusion is called liberation; in reality, they have not yet attained universal liberation.' If one has attained universal liberation, how could there be a single phenomenon that is not a Buddha-work? As for the Bodhi tree performing Buddha-works: this tree's color and fragrance are subtle and wonderful, and it also emits the sound of the Dharma; those who see, hear, smell, or touch it all awaken to the noble path. As for clothing and bedding performing Buddha-works: formerly, a king of Jambudvīpa obtained the Buddha's kaṣāya and hung it atop a high banner to show it to the people of the country. Those who had illnesses beheld it, took refuge, and were all cured of their illnesses; they generated the bodhicitta and thereby awakened to the path. The Mahāsaṃnipāta Sūtra says: 'At that time, five hundred great śrāvakas each took the uttarāsaṅga worn on their own bodies and offered it to Ākāśagarbha. Having offered the robes, with one voice they spoke these words: "If there are sentient beings who profoundly generate the mind of anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi, they will swiftly obtain excellent benefits, and within such a treasury of the Dharma of great wisdom, they will not fall outside of it." The robes offered immediately disappeared. Then the śrāvakas asked Ākāśagarbha: "Where did the robes go?" Ākāśagarbha replied: "They have entered into my treasury."' The Kuśalamūlasaṃparigraha Sūtra says: 'The Buddha said: "I shall now manifest the power of supernormal faculties to cause the bodhisattvas to know their own vows, generate the intention and practice the path, purify Buddha lands, mature sentient beings, and when they attain Buddhahood, their realms will be adorned and pure, with such numbers of śrāvakas and bodhisattvas, expounding the true Dharma and liberating people in such ways, with such lifespans and Buddha-Dharmas, with such bodily features and noble marks, with such correct conduct, and after their parinirvāṇa, the Dharma will abide for such lengths of time." He caused the bodhisattvas each to see such matters within their robes, enabling them to sever their doubts.' And further, a verse says: 'Because the Buddha entered samādhi, / he caused me to obtain this eye / and all dhāraṇī doors, / penetrating everywhere into all dharmas.' Thus we know that attaining Buddhahood and liberating sentient beings are not separate from within one's own body and citta, down to the phenomena one enjoys and uses. As the Mahāyāna Thousand-Bowl Great Teaching King Sūtra says: '"Look sideways into the lapis lazuli bowl in the hand of the Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī to see what characteristics are there." Mahākāśyapa then arose from his seat, prostrated with his head to the ground before the World-Honoured One, and went. Mahākāśyapa then made obeisance with his head to the ground before Mañjuśrī, and looked into the bowl. He then saw within the bowl ten billion three-thousand-great-thousand worlds, ten billion formless realms, ten billion form realms, ten billion six desire realms, ten billion Mount Sumerus, ten billion four continents, ten billion southern Jambudvīpas, ten billion Sahā worlds, ten billion Śākyamuni Tathāgatas, ten billion thousand-armed thousand-bowl Mañjuśrī Bodhisattvas, and ten billion Kāśyapas. Within Mañjuśrī's bowl were ten billion worlds, and within the worlds were ten billion Mahākāśyapas, each facing Mañjuśrī, inquiring about the meaning of the Mahāyāna Dharma.' As for empty space performing Buddha-works: as when Mañjuśrī obliterated material forms and manifested the characteristic of empty space to transform King Ajātaśatru, who thereby attained awakening to the path. Furthermore, as in the great assembly when Ākāśagarbha arrived, he purely manifested the characteristic of empty space. The sūtra says: 'The Bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha said to Ānanda: "Venerable, I have realized and known this through my own body; therefore, as I have realized and known, I am able to speak in this way. Why? My body is empty space itself. By means of empty space I realize and know all dharmas, which are sealed by the seal of empty space."' Furthermore, as the Bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha took empty space as his treasury, raining down upon immeasurable asaṃkhyeya worlds in the ten directions precious jewels, food, drink, and clothing. Therefore a verse says: 'Because empty space has no height, / lowness is also unobtainable; / all dharmas are also like this: / their nature is without high or low.' Another verse says: 'The Bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha / has obtained the treasury of empty space; / fully satisfying all sentient beings, / this treasury is inexhaustible.' As for the gates of the kleśas performing Buddha-works: as the sūtra says, 'The kleśas are the place of enlightenment (bodhimaṇḍa), because one knows them as they truly are.' The Benevolent Kings Sūtra says: 'When sentient beings have not yet attained Buddhahood, bodhi is kleśa. When sentient beings attain Buddhahood, kleśa is bodhi.' Just as an inferior physician turns medicine into non-medicine, while a superior physician uses non-medicine as medicine, sentient beings turn the mind of the Buddhas into the gate of defilement, while the Buddhas use the mind of sentient beings to accomplish the path of bodhi. It is also like a person of merit holding a stone and turning it to gold, while one destitute through karma turns gold into stone. Dharmas have no fixed characteristics; turning and shifting depend on the mind. The path is beyond names and words; the principle is without alteration. For example, the eye, form, and so on—each completely possesses the ten dharmadhātus. In the Unwinking World, staring fixedly allows one to attain anutpattikadharmakṣānti; thus the eye is the dharmadhātu. Seeing a flower wither and awakening to impermanence allows one to realize the fruit of a pratyekabuddha; thus form is the dharmadhātu. Therefore, the sūtra says: 'A bodhisattva has a crown that illuminates the Dharma-nature; when wearing this crown, all dharmas appear directly in the mind.' All affairs are also like this. Furthermore, a wheel-turning sage king possesses a jewel-couch; when the sage king sits upon it, he is able to abandon desire and attain the four dhyānas. Even though jade maidens see him, it is as though beholding a Buddha image, and desirous minds do not arise. Therefore, form is what is created, and the mind is what can create. There has never been a single phenomenon that is not my mind. If one is deluded about what is created, it becomes worldly dust; if one awakens to what can create, it becomes the wondrous purport. Furthermore, striking a skull to produce a sound, one knows the past good, evil, life, and death of that person; thus sound is the dharmadhātu. From this we know that when directly contemplating the fundamental principle, principle completely possesses all dharmas. If one lacks wondrous contemplation, one uses it daily without knowing it. If one can completely understand it, one sees that all the myriad dharmas completely possess the one mind's inconceivable principle of the perfect and sudden. Therefore Master Zhao said: 'Is the sage far away? Embody him, and one is spiritual. Is the Way far away? Touch affairs, and they are true.' This can truly be called the source where citta and objects are both unified. If one attains the brightness of the mirror of the source, it illuminates spontaneously, and whether form or citta, there is nothing it does not penetrate. Therefore, the Avataṃsaka Sūtra says: 'All these offerings...'
24.7.7
All are accomplished by the unexcelled citta and sealed by the unconditioned Dharma. Just as in the Lotus Treasury World (padmagarbha-lokadhātu), mountains, rivers, grasses, and trees all perform Buddha-work. When Sudhana saw, heard, sensed, and knew, he fully entered the dharmadhātu; thus one knows that all phenomena are the Buddha-Dharma, and all are the radiance of the mirror of the source, leaving no trace of a single dust-mote. The commentary (*Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa*) states: "It is not by destroying forms that one attains the path of equality. It is by contemplating that forms are not different [from emptiness] that one is able to equal the Great Vehicle. It is like light and dark being joined together, yet you do not see it, supposing that light and dark are different. If you wish to know its meaning, it is like the light of the sun: furthermore, when the sun rises, the darkness does not retreat to the ten directions; darkness is ever-present with nowhere to go. Light is also like this, joined together with darkness. Samsara is joined with the Path; the Path is itself samsara. Therefore, samsara is like darkness, and the Great Path is like light. One does not remove darkness to become light, nor does one perturb samsara to be the Path."
Apparitional beings performing Buddha-work is like the Buddha Śuśānta leaving apparitional Buddhas behind to deliver sentient beings. The *Mahāsaṃnipātasūtra* states: "At that time, an apparitional monk said to Śāriputra: 'Venerable One, did your mind perhaps think that I at present am different from you?' Śāriputra said: 'No, monk. Why is this? The Tathāgata always teaches that all phenomena are entirely like illusions. As the Tathāgata teaches, I too am like an illusion. Venerable One, if someone is able to make offerings to the Tathāgata, that is identical to making offerings to an apparition without any difference.' Then Śāriputra addressed the Bodhisattva Ineffable, saying: 'Good son, who entered this apparition and now speaks in this manner?' [The bodhisattva said:] 'Venerable One, like an image in a mirror, who is inside it so that an image appears?' [Śāriputra said:] 'Good son, there is no one inside it; it is simply due to the pure causes and conditions of the four great elements that an image appears.' [The bodhisattva said:] 'Venerable One, apparitions are also like this: because the dharmatā is pure, it can make this speech.' [Śāriputra said:] 'Good son, if so, why are all sentient beings unable to expound in this way?' [The bodhisattva said:] 'Venerable One, behind the back of the mirror, both are not separate from the mirror; why does no image appear?' [Śāriputra said:] 'Good son, it is because the four great elements on the back of the mirror are not clear and pure.' [The bodhisattva said:] 'Venerable One, sentient beings are also like this; because they cannot purify the nature of the dharmadhātu, they are unable to expound.'"
Silence and wordlessness performing Buddha-work refers to revealing the wheel of the mind. Although there is no speech, it does not impede having the joy of tranquility. If it were not joyful, how could it be said to perform Buddha-work? If the Buddha did not reveal the mind, even the ten stages would not know it; if he reveals the mind, even crawling insects can know it. One should know that this is the meaning of revealing the mind. Here also, having no teaching and no demonstration is used as Buddha-work, just as Vimalakīrti stopped his mouth and Mañjuśrī praised him. Furthermore, as the *Mahāsaṃnipātasūtra* states: "Purity, tranquility, radiance, and non-contention: these four dharmas equally enter into one realm, one dharma, and one phrase. These four dharmas are nirvāṇa itself. Because they are distant from kleśas, they are called 'purity.' Because they are completely pure, they are called 'tranquility.' Because they are without darkness, they are called 'radiance.' Because they cannot be spoken of, they are called 'non-contention.' For this reason it is said: 'Śākyamuni Tathāgata remained silent without preaching.'" Therefore, whether speaking or silent, moving or still, there is nothing that is not Buddha-work.
Hence a previous worthy said: "The cloud terrace and precious net both express wondrous sounds; the pores of the skin and the radiance of light are all able to preach the Dharma. In the Fragrant Accumulation world, eating fragrant rice manifests samādhi; in the Buddha Land of Utmost Bliss, listening to the wind in the branches perfects right mindfulness. Strings and pipes can transmit the mind; a meeting of eyes can preserve the Way. Since speech, silence, looking, and blinking all preach, then seeing, hearing, sensing, and knowing all listen. If one can obtain the Dharma and tally with the spirit, why must it depend on speech? Just as conveying intention through a zither to the King of Qin allowed escape from Jing Ke's hands, and Xiangru tuning [his zither] for Wenjun's daughter ultimately won her following his chariot; Śakra has ministers of Dharma-music, and Aśvaghoṣa had the skill of the *rāṣṭrapāla*—these are all strings and pipes transmitting the mind. As for 'a meeting of eyes preserving the Way', *Zhuangzi* states: 'The Master wished to see Wenbo Xuezi. For a long time he did not see him. When they met, they were completely silent without a word. When they came out, Zilu wondered and asked: "The Master has long wished to see Wenbo Xuezi; why were you completely silent without a word?" The Master said: "With a man like this, when our eyes meet the Way is preserved; there is no room for sounds."'"
As for the cloud terrace preaching the Dharma, the *Avataṃsakasūtra* states: "In empty space, a terrace of great radiant cloud nets was formed. At that time, from within the terrace of light, by the spiritual power of the Buddhas, verses were spoken: 'The Buddha is peerless, like empty space, possessing the ten powers and immeasurable supreme merit. The most supreme among mortals, the foremost in the world, the Dharma of the Lion of the Śākyas is bestowed upon them.'"
As for the precious net preaching the Dharma, the *Avataṃsakasūtra* states: "Its lion throne had maṇi jewels for its terrace and lotuses for its net... and further, sustained by the spiritual power of the Buddhas, it expounded the vast realm of the Tathāgata."
As for pores of the skin preaching the Dharma, the chapter "Entering the Dharmadhātu" states: "Bodhisattvas as numerous as the fine dust motes in seas of worlds all came toward the Buddha's place, emerging from all the pores of his skin, speaking clouds of voices in the oceanic languages of all sentient beings."
As for radiance preaching the Dharma, the chapter "Manifestation of Signs" states: "At that time, from the radiance of the bodhisattvas, sounds were simultaneously emitted, uttering this verse: 'From all the radiances wondrous sounds come forth, pervading all lands in the ten directions, expounding the merits of the Buddha's sons, able to enter the wondrous Path of bodhi.'"
Even adverse and favorable, good and evil, are nothing other than Buddha-work. For example, progressing from the two vehicles up to the Buddha is favorable practice; proceeding from the hells up to Māra the King of Evil is adverse practice. Furthermore, it is like Śākyamuni performing pure good while Devadatta performed pure evil; Śāriputra possessing sincere faith while Sunakṣatra was stubbornly unfaithful, and so forth. Beauty and ugliness share the same destination; there is nothing that is not Buddha-work. Hence the sūtra states: "The equal, true dharmadhātu cannot be practiced or reached by the Buddhas." It also says: "The actual ground of reality cannot be practiced or reached by the great King Māra." Because Buddhas and Māras both do not go beyond the gate of the dharmadhātu and the ground of the actual limit, because it is this single dharma. If there were practicing and reaching, there would be persons and dharmas existing outside the dharmadhātu, forming dualistic views. Therefore, the *Śūraṅgamasamādhisūtra* states:
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- 宗鏡錄 — Classical Chinese