英語訳
## Right Page (Zoku Hossō-shū Shoshin Ryakuyō, Lower Volume — Section 20)
### [Upper Section]
(When one does not cling to mere existence or mere non-existence,) in that moment all is awakening. In the four propositions (*shiku*, 四句) of the awakened state, all four propositions are affirmations. Therefore, the discourse that "at the ultimate level all is empty" also arises from the wisdom of the Great Sage (the Buddha), and is it not also acceptable? One needs only to cease the clinging mind and contemplate in accordance with true principle.
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### The Matter of the Five Distinct Natures (*go-shō kakubetsu*, 五性各別)
In general, with respect to the two natures of principle (*ri*, 理) and phenomena (*ji*, 事): phenomena are multiple in their substance, arising in dependence on conditions, and so those conditions are likewise not one. Principle is one in flavor (*ichimi*, 一味) in its nature, for it does not arise from conditions. It is like water and waves: waves have various forms, while water is equal and serene — so it is said. From such analogies one can infer and understand (the distinction). Now, within phenomena, persons (*hito*, 人, i.e., sentient beings) and dharmas (*hō*, 法) are distinct in their status (*bunni*, 分位). Speaking in truth, there is no separate person apart from dharmas, yet (each) properly corresponds to what it should, being orderly and without confusion. Therefore by taking persons as a model one can know the nature of dharmas, since both are phenomena and can be compared with one another.
Now, the principle that among dharmas there are various kinds of differences is a matter accepted (*gokujō*, 極成) by the various schools. [Note: Even through fusion (*yūtsū*, 融通), do they not all abolish the gate of distinctions? This gate of fusion is something we too accept — so some say.] Now, turning to the differentiation of persons (sentient beings), how can one not follow the teachings and principles? "All sentient beings equally attain buddhahood" — could this possibly be the form of phenomenal causation (*jisō engi*, 事相縁起)? One should clearly understand: from beginningless time, just as among dharmas there are various differences, so too among persons there are various kinds of distinct natures. Broadly classified, these are the five natures (*go-shō*, 五種性). Examined in detail, there are immeasurable differences. [Note: Among the śrāvaka there are (various) natures; among the pratyekabuddha there are the [*rin* (prob. *rin* 麟)-*yu* 喩 type and the] *bugyō* 部行 type, etc.; among bodhisattvas there are the wisdom-predominant (*chizō*, 智増) and non-predominant types; among the indeterminate (*fujō*, 不定) natures there are those who possess all three (natures) and those who possess two, etc. Divided thus by aspect, there are immeasurable distinct natures.]
For this reason, in the great Mahāyāna sūtras such as the *Saṃdhinirmocana Sūtra* (*Jinmitsukyō*, 深密経), the *Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra* (*Ryōga*, 楞伽), the *Śrīmālā Sūtra* (*Shōman*, 勝鬘), and the *Nirvāṇa Sūtra* (*Nehan*, 涅槃), and in the great Mahāyāna treatises such as the *Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra* (*Yuga*, 瑜伽), the *Mahāyānasaṃgraha* (*Kenyō*, 顕揚), the *Cheng weishi lun* (*Yuishiki*, 唯識), and the *Buddhabhūmisūtra-śāstra* (*Butsuchi*, 仏地), this purport is explicitly expounded. In the *Saṃdhinirmocana Sūtra*, Śākyamuni himself reconciled (the teaching of) the one vehicle and established
### [Lower Section]
the (doctrine of) five distinct natures. In the *Nirvāṇa Sūtra*, (the claim that Śākyamuni) did not distinguish the differences of (spiritual) natures was (declared to be) a failure to understand his true intent. The meaning of every passage is earnest, and every text is perfectly clear. If one were to set aside all these teachings and pronounce them all to be expedient (*gonkyō*, 権教) [Note: "son" 損 may be a scribal error for "gon" 権] teachings, there would need to be very substantial textual and rational grounds for doing so. If (the one-vehicle proponents) adduce the *Lotus Sūtra* and similar texts as evidence, we likewise adduce the *Saṃdhinirmocana* and similar texts as evidence. Both are the words of the Tathāgata. Furthermore, using a one-sided principle to claim that (the teaching of) "existent nature" (*usshō*, 有性) is the real teaching of "existent nature" while "non-existent nature" (*musshō*, 無性) is not the real teaching of "non-existent nature" — (this) results in the two natures of existence and non-existence being subsumed under whichever one (view) one chooses.
If the *Lotus Sūtra* is to be taken as the supreme (*genjū*, 嚴重) (authority that) transcends and harmonizes the teachings, (one must consider that) the *Saṃdhinirmocana* and similar sūtras are the teachings spoken by Śākyamuni in his Reward Body (*hōshin*, 報身), at the pure land of the eighteen perfections (*jūhachi enman no jōdo*, 十八円満浄土), addressed to bodhisattvas of the most profoundly advanced stages such as Avalokiteśvara and Maitreya as the principal recipients (*shōki*, 正機). In each chapter (the Buddha) himself declares (the teaching to be) "ultimately of definitive meaning" (*kukyō ryōgi*, 究竟了義), comprehensively harmonizes all apparent contradictions in the Buddha's lifetime of teaching, and brings everything back into the dharma-gate of Yogācāra and the Five Natures. How could this be anything less than supreme? Moreover, for what reason would the Buddha preach a dharma-gate of expedient means within this sūtra? If (the Buddha) were to preach a shallow teaching (*senpo*, 浅法) to deep-rooted (spiritually advanced) beings (*jinki*, 深機), would that not be a most futile discourse? Could this possibly be the standard (*kisoku*, 軌則) of the Tathāgata's teaching? If a teaching of non-definitive meaning (*furyō no setsu*, 不了説) were propagated in the Reward Land, what efficacy would such a teaching have?
Thinking thus on the basis of these principles: what all the teachings say is entirely true. The one vehicle thereby admits the five natures — it is the teaching of the one vehicle through the gate of the three naturelessnesses. The five natures thereby harmonize with the one vehicle — it is the establishment of the five natures through the gate of the three natures. This harmonization is not a private theory we have invented; it originates in the "Chapter on the Naturelessness of All Dharmas" (*Mujishō-bon*, 無自性品) of the *Saṃdhinirmocana Sūtra* and has been transmitted in a lineage of lamp from Maitreya (*Jishi*, 慈氏), Asaṅga (*Mujaku*, 無著), Vasubandhu (*Tenjin*, 天親), and Dharmapāla (*Gohō*, 護法) in succession. Who could doubt this? Maitreya was himself present at that assembly, directly receiving the wondrous teaching of Vairocana (*Shana*, 舎那). Among the five collections of *abhidharma* treatises he expounded, the *Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra* (*Daishōgon-ron*, 大荘厳論) harmonizes the one vehicle with eight points; and the ten points (*jūgi*, 十義) of the *Mahāyānasaṃgraha* (*Shōron*, 摂論) propagates precisely this (teaching). [Annotation: ▢▢ may read "fearfully, how (can one doubt?)".] ▢▢可▢▢. If that is so, within the world of sentient beings, whether each being
## Left Page (Zoku Hossō-shū Shoshin Ryakuyō, Lower Volume — Section 21)
### [Upper Section]
possesses the conditioned (*ui*, 有為) seeds (of awakening) — is this not a difference that exists by nature as things are (*hōni*, 法爾)? [Note: "ya" 哉 may be a scribal error for "arui wa" 或] Some sentient beings by nature do not possess unconditioned (*muro*, 無漏) seeds — these constitute the "ultimately without nature" (*hikkyō-mujō*, 畢竟無性). Some sentient beings by nature possess unconditioned seeds — these constitute those "with (spiritual) nature" (*usshō*, 有種性). Among those with (spiritual) nature, some sentient beings possess all the unconditioned seeds of the three vehicles — these are called "indeterminate (spiritual) nature" (*fujō-shō*, 不定種性). Some sentient beings possess only the unconditioned seeds of one vehicle — these are called "determinate nature" (*jōshō*, 定性). Among these determinate natures, those who possess only bodhisattva seeds are called "determinate-nature Mahāyāna" (*jōshō daijō*, 定性大乗). Those who possess only pratyekabuddha nature are called "determinate-nature pratyekabuddha" (*jōshō dokugyaku*, 定性独覚). Those who possess only bodhisattva nature are called "determinate-nature bodhisattva" (*jōshō bosatsu*, 定性菩薩). [Note: There appears to be some confusion or scribal error in the manuscript's treatment of "determinate-nature Mahāyāna" and "determinate-nature bodhisattva," as they seem to describe the same thing.] Combining these two (*nijō*, 二乗), they are called "determinate-nature two-vehicle" (*jōshō nijō*, 定性二乗). Among those of indeterminate nature there are many kinds: some possess both bodhisattva and pratyekabuddha natures, some possess both bodhisattva and śrāvaka natures, some possess all three, and some possess both pratyekabuddha and śrāvaka natures. The first three categories will certainly turn their minds (away from the lesser vehicles) and attain *anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi* (unsurpassed perfect awakening), because their Mahāyāna nature is superior and they will certainly obtain that fruit. The remaining one category is not like this, and remains in the stage of the two vehicles. All such differences are the natural (*hōni*, 法爾) distinctions within the ālaya-consciousness (*raiya-zōshiki*, 頼耶蔵識) of each individual.
**Question.** The *Lotus Sūtra* is the cause and condition of the one great matter (*ichidaiji*, 一大事) of all buddhas of the three ages. Their appearing in the world and attaining the Way has as its fundamental intent (*honkai*, 本懐) the preaching of this sūtra. This purport is found in the text of the sūtra itself, and the founders of our school also speak of this at great length. If (five distinct natures) is established (as you say), then what the present sūtra (*Lotus Sūtra*) teaches would all become "implicit and non-definitive teaching" (*onmitsu furyō setsu*, 隠密不了説). How could that be right? For this reason, the benefits accruing from the "Chapter on the Lifespan" (*Juryō-bon*, 寿量品) stand alone in their excellence throughout the whole of (the Buddha's) lifetime of teaching — surely there is good reason for this. Furthermore, among things in particular, conditioned (*ui*, 有為) dharmas are like illusions, with no fixed ▢▢ root nature (*konsho*, 根性), transforming in accordance with conditions. This purport is found throughout the texts of the teachings. Why strongly cling to the claim that dharmas ▢ are different (in nature)? The unconditioned true nature (*mūi risshō*, 無為理性) is equal and all-pervading, genuinely established as it has always been (*hōni*, 法爾). The ten thousand dharmas rest upon it; it is not defiled by the afflictions; it is not
### [Lower Section]
destroyed by dependent origination. Its fundamental nature is wondrously subtle; it fully possesses immeasurable, inconceivable virtues. This is what should be called Buddha-nature (*busshō*, 仏性). Beyond this, why search further for conditioned unconditioned seeds (*ui muro shūji*, 有為無漏種子)? In the *Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra* it states: "Supramundane dharmas arise from the seed (conditioned by) true suchness as object-condition (*shinnyoshoen-en no shūji*, 真如所縁縁種子)" — is this not clear evidence? We can surely know: the passages in the various teachings that speak of the five distinct natures are only showing temporary distinctions, not distinctions in nature that exist by nature as things are (*hōni kakubetsu*, 法爾各別). Furthermore, what the *Saṃdhinirmocana* and similar sūtras harmonize as "one vehicle" cannot be considered the same as the one vehicle of the *Lotus Sūtra*. And indeed, according to the position of the other schools, since the *Saṃdhinirmocana* is held to predate the *Lotus Sūtra*, how could it harmonize the *Lotus Sūtra*? Now, what is being established (here) — whether the one vehicle and the five natures are both true — is a case where the two positions greatly contradict each other. How could both be true? Because the meaning of two contradictory dharmas standing side by side within a single teaching of truth (*jikkyō*, 実教) is unobtainable.
Moreover, wandering sentient beings (*ryūten bonnō*, 流転凡夫) do not themselves know their (own spiritual) nature. If there were beings of no (spiritual) nature (*mushō*, 無種性) making up any portion of the world of sentient beings, how could anyone know that they themselves are not of that kind? The same doubt applies to those of determinate two-vehicle nature. If so, one who studies the fixed doctrine of the five natures should constantly harbor this doubt — and how much more, then, could (such a one) be inclined to spiritual laziness? Is this not a great difficulty?
**Answer.** "Sentient beings are boundless; I vow to save them all" — this is the universal vow of all buddhas of the three ages. One who enters the Buddha's path must, from the very first stage of aspiration (*hosshin*, 発心), necessarily hold this vow. To aspire to awakening (*bodai*, 菩提) is also (done) for the sake of sentient beings. This means giving rise to the great compassion of equality (*byōdō daiji*, 平等大悲) ▢▢ (despite) the distinctions between sentient beings with and without (spiritual) nature. If one [▢▢, perhaps "desires to"] despise those without (spiritual) nature, how could one (ever) have the great compassion of equality? However, if this vow were to run contrary to the principle of the Dharma (*hōdōri*, 法道理), it would, I fear, fall into the category of a wrong vow (*jawan*, 邪願). (For) all dharmas are without self (*shoho muga*, 諸法無我).
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*Kōshō* the third year [*hinoto ushi*, 丁丑, i.e., 1457], the eleventh day of the seventh month. At the quiet window of Gochikō-in (*Gochikō-in no kansō*, 五智光院閑窓) in the Southern Capital (*Nanto*, i.e., Nara), (this work was) finished with a rough brush. A superior exemplar (*shōhon*, 勝本) should be sought so that it may be collated.
Śramaṇa (*shamon*, 沙門) Jitsuei (実英)