宗鏡錄 61.37

61.37

Answer: If investigated thoroughly according to the ultimate principle, the three periods are all unattainable; thus there is no response. Hence the sūtra says: 'Bodhi is not said to have past, future, or present; it is only by convention of worldly words and numbers that three periods are spoken of.' Through the power of the four siddhāntas, they are spoken in accordance with sentient beings. Sometimes past good is used as capacity; hence it is said: 'Due to our past merits and good fortune, we now meet the World-Honoured One.' Again, as with the persons of the five skillful means, for those who accumulated skillful means in the past, manifesting the true is easy, while for those who did not accumulate them, it is difficult; therefore, past good is taken as capacity. Or present good may be taken as capacity; hence it is said: 'Right at the time of giving rise to this thought, the Buddha appeared in the sky.' Or future good may be taken as capacity: in order to cause unarisen wholesome dharmas to arise. Again, just as uncontaminated [dharmas] lack an accumulation cause yet are able to stimulate the Buddha. Hence the Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa says: 'For example, lotuses in water include those already bloomed, newly blooming, and yet unbloomed; if they do not receive the sun's light, they will wither and die without doubt.' If the good of the three periods does not encounter a buddha, it has no way to come to fruition. Evil is also like this: either one repents all past sins now; or one also repents all sins being committed in the present; or regarding future sins, one cuts off the continuing mind and obstructs the future; this is called saving. Why? Transgressions committed in the past obstruct present good from arising; to eliminate this evil, one therefore petitions the Buddha. Again, present fruits and suffering retributions press upon sentient beings, so that they seek salvation and protection. Again, future evils, when their time arrives, are obstructed so they do not arise. Thus evil across the three periods is generally used as capacity. Response is also like this: sometimes past loving-kindness and compassion are used as response; hence it is said: 'I originally made a vow wanting to cause them to attain this Dharma.' Or present loving-kindness and compassion are used as response: all devas, humans, and asuras should come here to hear the Dharma; those not yet crossed over are made to cross over. Again, using the future as response refers to benefiting beings in future ages in the chapter on the Life Span; it is also as stated in the Chapter on Peaceful and Joyful Practices: 'When I attain unexcelled complete enlightenment, I will guide them to dwell in this Dharma.' In general terms, the good and evil of the three periods all serve as capacity; specifically speaking, only future good and evil are taken as the primary capacity. Why? The past has already passed, and the present is already determined; it is solely to extract future evil and give rise to future good.