維摩經義記卷第四 4.49

4.49

From “The Buddha told the bodhisattvas” onward is the seventh section. Within it, it is divided into three subsections. First, from “exhaustible and inexhaustible” up to “such as a bodhisattva: not exhausting the conditioned, not abiding in the unconditioned.” It pairs the conditioned and the unconditioned together as the chapter headings. Second, from “What is meant by not exhausting the conditioned” down to “not making merits in vain—this is called the bodhisattva not abiding in the unconditioned.” It clarifies and explains not exhausting the conditioned and not abiding in the unconditioned. Third, from “Moreover, because of being replete with merit, one does not abide in the unconditioned” down to “this is called the dharma door of exhaustible and inexhaustible liberation; you should train in it,” eight sentences concluding both the conditioned and the unconditioned together. As for the “dharma door of the exhaustible”: truth is false, exhaustible, and extinguishable—this is called ‘exhaustible’; nature-emptiness is real, inexhaustible, and inextinguishable—this is called ‘inexhaustible’. Ordinary beings grasp onto the conditioned, which is complete bondage; the two vehicles cling to emptiness, which is also complete bondage. Bodhisattvas dwell in the conditioned without attachment, thus freeing themselves from the bondage of ordinary beings; they do not realize emptiness and abide there, thus freeing themselves from the bondage of the two vehicles; therefore, they attain liberation. That which can serve as a rule is called ‘dharma’; penetrating wisdom serves as the ‘door’. As a sūtra text says: “unhindered” means removing the hindrances of ordinary beings and encouraging the two vehicles, and so forth. “What is meant by exhaustible? It refers to conditioned dharmas”: the lack of falsity is conditioned dharmas. “What is meant by inexhaustible? It refers to unconditioned dharmas”: the absence of nature-emptiness being inexhaustible and inextinguishable is unconditioned dharmas. “Such as a bodhisattva: not exhausting the conditioned, not abiding in the unconditioned”: although the conditioned is false, if one exhausts it, the great enterprise will not be accomplished; although the unconditioned is real, if one abides in it, the contemplation of emptiness will not be lucid.