翻譯名義集 6.41

6.41

[Praveśa] Here translated as "entry" (ru). The Fajie cidi says: "As a general term, they are called 'entry'; entry takes engaging and entering as its meaning. When sense bases and dusts face each other, consciousness arises. Consciousness relies on sense bases and dusts, functioning as that which enters; sense bases and dusts are that which is entered. These twelve now receive their name from that which is entered." The Xunwen says: "The six entries have broadly two meanings: first, the sense bases and dusts mutually engage and enter each other; second, both the sense bases and objects are that which consciousness enters. Therefore, the various sūtras call them the twelve entries. The Śūraṅgama-sūtra takes only the six sense bases as entries because the sense bases have a superior meaning: they directly generate consciousness, and moreover, the sense bases can receive objects and draw in the dusts before them, so they are exclusively named entries. Hence it is said: 'The six are the mediators of thieves, plundering their own family treasures.' It is also said: 'The village of the six entries.'" The Fajie cidi says: "The internal six are named entries because these six dharmas are immediate and therefore belong to the internal. Serving as that on which consciousness relies, they are named entries. They are also called 'roots' (indriya), because root takes the ability to produce as its meaning. Since these six all possess the efficacy of producing consciousness, they are generally named roots. The external six entries: these six are distant and therefore belong to the external; being traversed by consciousness, they are named entries. They are also named 'dusts' (viṣaya), because dust takes defilement as its meaning; since they can defile sentiment and consciousness, they are generally named dusts." Furthermore, regarding the twelve āyatanas, the Baifa shu says: "The meaning of generation and growth: that is, the six kinds of consciousness, relying on the sense bases and dusts, achieve generation and growth, and are named the twelve āyatanas."