大乘百法明門論開宗義決 1.230

1.230

由其作用遠速明異等者。五識之中眼耳用遠。能取遠境故向前說。就二識中眼識用遠故在耳先。如遠見人撞擊鍾鼓後聞聲故。鼻舌二根用俱非遠。先說鼻者。謂由兩義。一速二明。所言速者。如對香美諸飲食時。鼻先嗅香舌後甞味。所言明者。味中有香。香細於味。鼻根能取味中細者。故是明利。香中有味。味麁於香。舌根能取香中麁者。故說不明。身最遲闇故最在後。

"Due to their functions being distant, rapid, clear, or distinct, etc.": among the five consciousnesses, the functions of the eye and ear are distant, and because they can apprehend distant objects they are explained first. Between the two consciousnesses, the eye consciousness's function is more distant, so it precedes the ear, just as when seeing someone striking a bell or drum from afar, one hears the sound afterward. The functions of the nose and tongue faculties are neither distant; explaining the nose first is due to two meanings: first, rapidness; second, clarity. As for 'rapidness': when facing fragrant and delicious foods, the nose first smells the fragrance, and the tongue tastes the flavor afterward. As for 'clarity': there is fragrance within flavor, and fragrance is subtler than flavor; the nose faculty can apprehend what is subtle within flavor, so it is sharp and clear. There is flavor within fragrance, and flavor is coarser than fragrance; the tongue faculty can apprehend what is coarse within fragrance, so it is said to be unclear. The body is the slowest and most obscure, so it is placed last.