廣弘明集 21.24

21.24

吳平世子蕭勵諮曰。通旨云。第一義諦世諦。褒貶立名。真俗二諦定體立名。尋真諦之理既妙絕言慮。未審云何有定體之旨。令旨答曰。談其無相無真不真。寄名相說以真定體。又諮。若真諦無體。今寄言辨體。未審真諦無相。何不寄言辨相。令旨答。寄言辯體猶恐貶德。若復寄言辯相則有累虛玄。又諮。真諦玄虛離於言說。今既稱有真。豈非寄言辯相。令旨答。寄有此名。名自是相。無傷此理無相虛寂。又諮。未審此寄言辯體。為是當理為不當理。令旨答。無名而說名不全當理。又諮。若寄言辯名。名不當理。未審此寄將何所說。令旨答。雖不當理。為接引眾生須名相說。

Xiao Li, Heir Apparent of Wuping, inquired: "The general decree states: 'Supreme-meaning truth and worldly truth establish their names by appraisal and depreciation; the two truths of ultimate and conventional establish their names by determining the essence.' Inquiring into the principle of ultimate truth, it is already subtly beyond words and thoughts; I do not yet know how there can be the purpose of determining an essence."
The imperial decree answered: "Speaking of its marklessness, there is neither true nor untrue; relying on names and marks, one speaks of it by determining the essence as true."
[Xiao Li] also inquired: "If ultimate truth has no essence, and now one relies on words to discern its essence, I do not yet know: ultimate truth being without marks, why not rely on words to discern marks?"
The imperial decree answered: "Relying on words to discern essence, one still fears depreciating its virtue; if one furthermore relied on words to discern marks, it would burden the void and profound."
[Xiao Li] also inquired: "Ultimate truth is profound, void, and free from verbal expression. Now since one speaks of having the true, is this not relying on words to discern marks?"
The imperial decree answered: "One borrows the existence of this name; the name itself is a mark. It does no harm to this principle being markless, void, and quiescent."
[Xiao Li] also inquired: "I do not yet know: does this relying on words to discern essence match the principle, or does it not match the principle?"
The imperial decree answered: "Speaking where there are no names, the names do not entirely match the principle."
[Xiao Li] also inquired: "If relying on words to discern names means that names do not match the principle, I do not yet know what this reliance will express."
The imperial decree answered: "Although it does not match the principle, in order to guide and receive sentient beings, one must speak through names and marks."