宗鏡錄 86.7

86.7

Answer: The one mind is the general; all phenomena are the particular. Although the particular arises from the general, phenomenal events arise in a thousand variations. If one does not clearly and thoroughly illuminate them in detail, exercising both concealing and illuminating, then the principle will be isolated and phenomena impoverished, failing to enter perfect penetration. The *Vimalakīrtinirdeśa-sūtra* says: "Skillfully able to distinguish the characteristics of all phenomena, yet remaining unmoving in the ultimate truth." The Tiantai teaching says: "Regarding the ocean of teachings of the texts and meanings of the various dharma-gates, one must understand that it is neither words nor non-words; illumine both words and non-words; it is inexpressible, yet not inexpressible; invisible, yet not invisible. What is there to select? What is there not to select? What is there to subsume? What is there not to subsume? What is there to discard? What is there not to discard? If affirmed, all are affirmed; if negated, all are negated. Being able, in the black ink, to penetrate all negations, and in all negations to penetrate all affirmations; penetrating all negations, negation is not negation; all phenomena are errant, and all phenomena are correct. If one does not understand the black ink in this way, one does not know words and non-words—like an insect eating wood, unable to discern where it ends, or like a bird speaking of emptiness, how could it know the ultimate import?"