宗鏡錄 46.3.9

46.3.9

their profound stillness is not non-existent. It cannot be known with a conceptual mind, nor can it be realized with a mindless state. Examining within the dharmadhātu, there is no text of generality and particularity; approaching the ocean of fruition, the principles of completion and disintegration are cut off. Now, relying on the gate of cause and the illumination of wisdom, past masters briefly illustrated it with a metaphor. The doctrine of the six characteristics consists of: first, the characteristic of generality; second, the characteristic of particularity; third, the characteristic of similarity; fourth, the characteristic of difference; fifth, the characteristic of completion; sixth, the characteristic of disintegration. The characteristic of generality: for example, a single house is the characteristic of generality. Rafters and the like are the characteristic of particularity. The various conditions such as rafters harmoniously unite to make the house, not conflicting with one another and not making other things; hence this is called the characteristic of similarity. The various conditions such as rafters, viewed in relation to one another, are distinct one by one; this is called the characteristic of difference. The various conditions such as rafters, the one and the many completing each other, is called the characteristic of completion. The various conditions such as rafters, each abiding in its own dharma and fundamentally not acting, is called the characteristic of disintegration. Furthermore, the rafter is precisely the house, because the rafter alone is able to make the house; if apart from the rafter, the house would not be completed at all. Because when one gets the rafter, one gets the house. Therefore, the rafter does not jointly complete it with a small force; all act with full force. Since the house is precisely the rafter, the remaining tiles, wood, and so forth are entirely and collectively the rafter. If the rafter is removed, the house ceases to exist; because the house is destroyed, they are not called tiles, wood, and so forth. Therefore, tiles, wood, and so forth are precisely this rafter. If they were not precisely the rafter, the house would not be completed, and the rafters, tiles, wood, and so forth would none of them be completed. Now, since they are all completed, one knows that they are mutually identical. The rafter is precisely the tiles, wood, and so forth. Since it is so for one rafter, the rest of all conditions follow the same rule. Therefore, when all dharmas of dependent origination are not completed, they are already completed. The characteristic of particularity: the various conditions such as rafters are distinct from the general. If they were not distinct, the meaning of generality would not be established, because when there is no particularity, there is no generality. Because generality is obtained on the basis of particularity, therefore particularity takes generality as particularity. For instance, because the rafter is precisely the house, it is called the characteristic of generality; because it is precisely the rafter, it is called the characteristic of particularity. If it were not precisely the house, it would not be a rafter; if it were not precisely the rafter, it would not be a house. By analogy, if it were not precisely the general, it would not be called particular; if it were not precisely the particular, it would not be called general.