淨名經集解關中疏 1.7

1.7

'Also Named Inconceivable Liberation' — This is receiving the title based on dharma. The text below says: 'The Buddha taught the abandonment of lust, anger, and delusion as liberation for people with the arrogance of premature attainment. If one is without premature arrogance, the very nature of lust and anger is itself liberation'—this discusses the essence. Or, regarding the compassionate vow, dwelling in defilement without being defiled, using non-ways to penetrate the Way—this names it based on function. Because previous teachings expediently guided the three vehicles by calling them all liberation, now that the expedient is turned back to the real, it is specially designated as 'inconceivable'. This is the same as the 'hundred phrases of liberation' in the Great Scripture and the liberations of the various kalyāṇamitras in the Avataṃsaka Sūtra. Kumārajīva said: 'It is also called samādhi, and also called spiritual foot. Either causing long and short to change measures, or causing the gigantic and minute to contain each other, transformation occurs at will. Being sovereign in dharmas and liberated from obstacles, it is called liberation. The capable can do so, yet beings do not know why; hence it is called inconceivable. It is also said: for a dharmakāya mahāsattva, as soon as a thought arises, response follows, without entering meditative concentration before being able to do so. The mind attains sovereignty and is not bound by inability; hence it is called liberation. If one were to explain the emptiness of dharmas directly, it would contradict conventional experience and offer no basis for faith. Therefore, manifesting things transforming according to the mind clarifies that things have no fixed nature. Since things have no fixed nature, their nature is empty. Because the bodhisattva attains this absence of fixedness, causing things to turn according to the mind, it is inconceivable. This is clear proof of emptiness, and being about to reveal the principle, it is taken as the title of the scripture.' Sengzhao said: 'Subtle, distant, dark, and deep, beyond the measure of the two vehicles: this is the inconceivable. Freely unhindered, beyond the confinement of defilements: this is liberation. From its beginning with the Pure Land to its end with the Dharma Offering, though what is clarified in between differs, the inconceivable liberation is one; hence it is titled collectively after this. Above, the scripture is named after a person; here, the scripture is named after a dharma. Naming it after a dharma serves to indicate the ultimate aim; naming it after a person serves to propagate the Way through the person.' Daosheng said: 'When it is called "Stainless", one might stop at the external traces and the mind would not be at peace; hence it is also called "Liberation". It is also given another name, "Inconceivable", which generally has two aspects: first, the principle of emptiness is beyond what deluded feelings can conceive; second, the marvelous and wondrous is beyond what shallow discernment can measure. If one embodies the principle of emptiness, one is liberated from the delusions of thought and deliberation. Once delusions are cast off, one's actions are difficult to fathom. Vimalakīrti's current movement and stillness turn away from the marvelous and wondrous, and he has surely cast off all delusions. Casting off delusions lies in embodying emptiness; speaking of emptiness is what he embodies. For this reason, the title "Stainless Name" is trustworthy and verified. If the name is verified, one's seeking becomes all the more earnest; for those who reach earnestness in seeking, what worry is there of not awakening?' Sengrui said: 'A bodhisattva has no deliberate mind, yet speaks in response to beings. Sentient beings merely behold the teaching without fathoming its origin; hence what is spoken is named "inconceivable". Though speaking, there is no deliberate mind, so there is no obstruction by existence; though having no deliberate mind, he is able to speak, so there is no obstruction by non-existence. Being unable to be encumbered by emptiness or existence is therefore called "liberation".'