英語訳
## Right Page (Zoku Hossō-shū Shoshin Ryakuyō, Lower Volume — Section 18)
### [Upper Section]
If (the transmissions of prior eminent teachers) are deeply sought and studied, there will in the end be no contradiction (between them and our position).
**Question.** The principle that the Middle Way of the three natures in relation ultimately returns to the Middle Way beyond language (*rigen chūdō*, 離言中道) has not yet been clearly demonstrated. Please explain it in detail. Furthermore, the intent of Bhāviveka (*Seiben*, 清弁) and others is to establish, for a single dharma at a single moment, the meaning of "conventionally existent and ultimately non-existent." Since even within a single moment of thought, the two gates of emptiness and existence mutually encompass each other without contradiction, when considered in summary, this is itself "neither empty nor existent." How then can it be said that "your position (= Bhāviveka's) conforms to one-sided emptiness (*henku*, 偏空)"? If it is because the ultimate (*shōgi*, 勝義) is empty that it conforms to one-sided emptiness, then Dharmapāla (*Gohō*, 護法) too, because his ultimate is existent (*u*, 有), would conform to one-sided existence (*henū*, 偏有). How then can it be said that "our position (= Dharmapāla's) conforms to the Middle Way"?
Next, is there truly no meaning in our own school of directly emptying the dharma-substance (*hōtai*, 法体) of the dependent (*paratantra*) and perfectly accomplished (*pariniṣpanna*)? If one says "there is none," then the criticism that the dharma-substance remains at existence (*u*, 有) is still difficult to avoid. For this reason, among the two transmissions regarding "the two (types of) non-nature" (*ninushō*, 二無性), the transmission of "substance-emptiness" (*taiku*, 体空) directly empties the dharma-substance. If this meaning exists, how can one say "there is no separate meaning of emptiness beyond the emptiness of the imagined (*shoshashu*, 所執空)"? If the (argument) presently being established exclusively adheres to the "imagined-emptiness transmission" (*shūkū den*, 執空傳), I fear it does not know the "substance-emptiness meaning" (*taiku gi*, 体空義) — how does this stand?
**Answer.** The principle that the Middle Way of the three natures in relation returns to the Middle Way beyond language is intricate, exceedingly profound, and subtle. In my (the author's) own contemplation, I would say: in general, when the two gates of the three natures are set in relation to each other, the three natures (*sansho*, 三性) (gate) is the Middle Way of the "existence gate" (*ūmon*, 有門), and the three non-natures (*san-mushō*, 三無性) (gate) is the Middle Way of the "emptiness gate" (*kūmon*, 空門).
The Middle Way of the existence gate is the teaching in which all three natures illuminate and manifest (dharmas). Therefore it is collectively the existence gate. Within that existence: because the imagined (*parikalpita*) is empty, it is not (one-sidedly) existent; because the dependent (*paratantra*) and perfectly accomplished (*pariniṣpanna*) are existent, it is not (one-sidedly) empty.
The Middle Way of the emptiness gate is the teaching in which all three non-natures (*san-mushō*) [Note: the annotation suggests that "性" may have been accidentally omitted after "無"] block and stop (misconceptions). Therefore it is collectively the emptiness gate. Within that emptiness: because (the imagined's) characteristics (*sō*, 相) are empty (non-existent), it is not existent; because the latter two (dependent and perfectly accomplished) are existent, it is not empty. This is the grand outline (*daiko*, 大綱), the great main path (*daito*, 大途) of the two gates.
To discuss them in detail: each and every (aspect of the three natures) has the meaning of "neither empty nor existent." Taking up the three-natures gate: "the emptiness of the imagined" first of all blocks and stops the deluded attachments of *augmentation* (*zōyaku*, 増益 — superimposing existence onto what is not there) and *diminution* (*songen*, 損減 — denying the existence of what is there). The gate of "blocking augmentation" is the gate of non-existence (*hiū*, 非有), and the gate of "blocking diminution" is the gate of
### [Lower Section]
non-emptiness (*hiku*, 非空). Because (the emptiness of the imagined) applies to both, even though it is called "all-encompassing emptiness" (*kaiku*, 皆空), within the attachments being blocked there are already both the attachment to emptiness and the attachment to existence as distinct (tendencies) — and so the emptiness that is thereby revealed and attained (*kentoku*, 顕得) is necessarily and naturally "neither empty nor existent." Likewise, the two natures of dependent origination and perfect accomplishment, which are upheld through blocking augmentation and diminution, are necessarily and naturally "neither empty nor existent." Because they manifest (*hyōshō*, 表彰) the dharma-substance, they are collectively taken as existent, but because what is manifested is subtle and fine, they are necessarily and naturally "neither empty nor existent." This is still the broad outline within the detailed analysis.
If one discusses even more in detail: within the gate of "blocking the attachment of augmentation," since it already blocks "augmented existence," it does not block "non-augmented existence." Therefore, even though (the result) is non-existence (*hiū*, 非有), it independently carries the meaning of "non-emptiness" (*hiku*, 非空). Likewise, within the gate of "blocking diminution," since it already blocks "diminished emptiness," it does not block "non-diminished emptiness." Therefore, even though (the result) is non-emptiness (*hiku*), it still carries the meaning of "non-existence" (*hiū*). In this way, the dependent and perfectly accomplished that are thereby revealed and attained have, layer upon layer, necessarily and naturally existing subtle and fine meanings. The "non-emptiness meaning" carried (by the non-existence side) and the "non-existence meaning" carried (by the non-emptiness side) also each in turn possess an emptiness meaning free of augmentation and diminution, and the existence meaning of "blocking diminution" is also, each in turn, free of augmentation and diminution. Pursuing and examining (this line of reasoning) in this way, recursively and at each level, one finally arrives at "wordlessness" (*zetsugon*, 絶言) — deliberation and discernment (*shiryō*, 思慮) [Note: annotation suggests 識 may be a miswriting of 議] suddenly cease. This is the Middle Way beyond language within the single existence gate of the three natures.
Therefore, with regard to the dependent origination's "conventional existence and real non-existence (*jitsumu*, 実無)": "conventional existence" (*keū*, 仮有) constitutes the meaning of existence (*ūgi*, 有義), and "real non-existence" constitutes the meaning of emptiness (*kūgi*, 空義) — this is one meaning at the broad-outline level. Discussing it in detail: conventional existence also has the meaning of "neither empty nor existent," and real non-existence also has the meaning of "neither empty nor existent"; and each of those individual "neither empty nor existent" (meanings) also, each and every one, further has the meaning of "neither empty nor existent." The "neither empty nor existent" of the perfectly accomplished may likewise be taken according to the same (principle). All of these can be understood by means of the principle already established above (end of the three-natures gate section).
In the emptiness gate of the three non-natures: there are the two gates of emptiness and existence, and each of those two gates has (within it) two further gates of emptiness and existence — a layer upon layer, subtle and fine, inexpressible principle. (That all) ultimately arrive at wordlessness (*zetsugon*)
## Left Page (Zoku Hossō-shū Shoshin Ryakuyō, Lower Volume — Section 19)
### [Upper Section]
— this principle may all be taken according to what was (argued) above.
Now, in the two gates of the three natures and the three non-natures, if one discusses the broad outline (*daito*, 大途): the three-natures gate "blocks diminution" (*songen wo shase*, 損減を遮), and the three-non-natures gate "blocks augmentation" (*zōyaku wo shase*, 増益を遮). This is because the direction toward which each gate's fundamental meaning points is such that the principle necessarily follows. However, when discussing (them) in detail: the three natures also block both augmentation and diminution, and the three non-natures also block both augmentation and diminution. These two gates, though appearing to be provisionally distinct, are in reality one single gate. Why so? Because from the emptiness gate of the imagined (*parikalpita*) within the three natures, the three non-natures are opened; and from the existence gate of the latter two (dependent and perfectly accomplished) within the three non-natures, the three natures are opened. They mutually interpenetrate and are not separate teaching-gates (*hōmon*, 法門).
When one grasps the meaning in this way, even though all existence gates are endlessly layered, when collected and discussed they all ultimately enter the existence gate of the dependent and perfectly accomplished; and even though all emptiness gates are endlessly layered, when collected and discussed they also all, without exception, enter the emptiness gate of the imagined. Therefore, preaching that "self and dharmas (*gahō*, 我法) are not existent, and emptiness-consciousness (*kūshiki*, 空識) is not non-existent" is the expressed essential point (*senyo*, 詮要) of the Middle Way. Once one has discussed it in this way, the inexpressible meanings are all complete (within it). It necessarily and naturally arrives at "the abandoning of verbal expression" (*haisen*, 廃詮). The gathas (*jushō*, 偈頌) of the Venerable Maitreya (*Jison*, 慈尊) embody precisely this intent.
Next, regarding the meaning of "conventionally existent and ultimately non-existent": (Bhāviveka and others) open (the dimension of) the conventional in a one-directional way and do not permit, within the ultimate, the meaning of existence at all. Our school's two truths (*nitai*, 二諦) are both (i.e., both the conventional and the ultimate) the Middle Way. That is, even within the ultimate, both the emptiness gate and the existence gate are fully recognized. The purport of this is established as (explained) above.
If that is so, then comparing our school's ultimate (*shōgi*, 勝義) with that other school's ultimate, it is (the case) that the other (school) conforms to one-sided emptiness, while our (school) upholds the Middle Way — this is surely brilliantly clear (*heizen*, 炳然). The view that "the Hossō school's ultimate is limited to existence (*u*, 有)" fails to discern the deep purport of the school. (This is) as established above.
Next, regarding the intent of "substance-emptiness" (*taiku*, 体空): the three non-natures take the three natures as their substance in order. The latter two non-natures are precisely the two natures of dependent origination and perfect accomplishment. However, what they empty is entirely the imagined (*parikalpita*, 所執). That is: the reason the dependent origination is called "production non-nature" (*shōmushō*, 生無性) is that the dharmas of dependent origination have no "self-naturally-arising nature" (*jinensh ō no shō*, 自然生性). That "self-natural arising" is precisely the imagined
### [Lower Section]
(*parikalpita*, 所執). The reason that, through the principle of perfect accomplishment, (it) is called "ultimate non-nature" (*shōgimushō*, 勝義無性) is that the non-phenomenal true principle (*musō no shinri*, 無相真理) is far removed from the imagined. This too is the meaning of emptying the imagined. However, this meaning of emptying the imagined upon these two natures (dependent and perfectly accomplished) is precisely the meaning that the two natures possess — and so, even though those natures are not entirely nonexistent, they are provisionally spoken of as "non-nature." [Note: the passage "所▢▢成" is illegible] This is the intent of "substance-emptiness" (*taiku*, 体空). Beyond this, a transmission of directly pointing to the dharma-substance and calling it empty is not found in private notes (*shiki*, 私記). Perhaps many people have been in error on this point.
**Question.** The intent of Bhāviveka and others is to establish the "Eight Negations Middle Way" (*hachifuchūdō*, 八不中道). This is precisely an ultimate-level (*shōgi*, 勝義) discourse. How can the ultimate be used to open (the teaching of) one-directional emptiness?
**Answer.** Bodhisattva Bhāviveka (*Seiben bosatsu*, 清弁菩薩) is a Great Master of Accomplished Truth (*ōjin daishi*, 応真大士) [citing Kuiji's (*Jion*, 慈恩) commentary on the *Rational Analysis Section* (*Rishu-bu*, 理趣分) — the *Rishu-bu疏*]. Nāgārjuna (*Ryūmyō*, 龍猛) and Āryadeva (*Daiba*, 提婆) are high-ranking saintly monastics. There is a (legitimate) teacher-to-student transmission, and there surely can be no error (in their teachings). It is said that the Sanlun school circulating at that time was not the lineage of Bhāviveka — and so on. Nevertheless, the Eight Negations Middle Way is indeed what (Bhāviveka) established. If that is so, then Daoxuan's (*Dōsen*, 道詮) criticisms too must surely have a deep purport. With the limited understanding of a late student, how can one presume to judge right and wrong? I am deeply, deeply apprehensive. However, even if one were to exhaustively study the legacy of (these masters), and even if one were a person of wisdom belonging to another lineage — if, upon hearing their critiques (*nanpa*, 難破), one does not open (them and examine them), who will then protect the life of the Dharma (*hōmyō*, 法命)? It is therefore with trepidation that I offer what my reflection has reached.
If that is so, the Eight Negations Middle Way is a teaching that entirely blocks and stops (all misconceptions). Although it is called the "Middle Way," what it verbally expresses (*sen*, 詮) is only this (blocking and stopping), and it corresponds to what our school calls "abandoning verbal expression" (*haisen*, 廃詮). (That is,) even the (practice of) stopping linguistic deliberation (*genryo*, 言慮) and (then) expressing [the character here is illegible] — that is precisely "(our teaching of:) self and dharmas are not existent, and emptiness-consciousness is not non-existent." Our (Hossō) school, from the very outset, recognizes two gates of emptiness and existence; that other (Sanlun/Mādhyamika) school, from the very outset, discusses only the single gate of emptiness. As for the destination they reach: in the (realm of) wordless (*rigen*, 離言) (realization), there is absolutely no dispute. But as for the gate of entry: that (our Hossō school) more clearly conforms to the Middle Way (compared to the other's partial approach) — is this not evident? However, this is still a provisional discussion (*ichidan no ron*, 一旦論). Although (a teaching) may appear to be partial (*hen*, 偏), in reality it is not partial; even if it appears (to conform to the Middle Way), when one clings to it, all becomes delusion (*mei*, 迷). The four propositions (*shiku*, 四句) (entertained by) the deluded mind are, all four propositions, negated. Therefore — not clinging to simple existence or simple non-existence —