翻譯名義集 5.122

5.122

[Three Eyes]
The Nirvāṇa Sūtra says: "Like Maheśvara, having three eyes upon his face." Zhang'an's Nirvāṇa Commentary says: "Maheśvara dwells at the pinnacle of the form realm, presiding over the trichiliocosm, with three eyes upon one face. Three eyes and one face cannot be spoken of in isolation. Whether the one and three are vertical or horizontal, joined or separate, they adorn the heavenly face and make him the lord of the world. Penetratingly illuminating the three thousand [worlds], neither vertical nor horizontal, the adornment and lordly illumination of the world are entirely accomplished. The three virtues are also like this: if they were vertical, horizontal, joined, or separate, the secret treasury would not be accomplished; being neither vertical nor horizontal, the secret treasury is thus accomplished."

Tiantai says: Expounding the three virtues completely is nirvāṇa; although the three dots are above and below, there is no verticality; within and without, there is no horizontality. The one is not confused with the others, and the three are not separated from one another.

The Shiqian says: "Above and below denotes verticality; although one dot is on top, it is not like the verticality of dripping water. The three virtues are also like this: the dharmakāya is inherently existent, not like the Separate Teaching where it is covered by delusion. Within and without denotes horizontality; although two dots reside below, it is not like the horizontality of blazing fire. The three virtues are also like this: the two virtues are cultivated to completion, not like those of the Separate Teaching where the principle-substance is replete yet does not encompass them. Therefore, the analogy of verticality and horizontality is borrowed to reveal the dharma that is neither joined nor separate." This can generally analogize the ten kinds of threefold dharmas, as in the Guangming xuan, which students may examine.