英語訳
【Right page, upper section】
Arousing the observation of the factors of enlightenment, going against the flow of the five views, and gathering immeasurable virtue, therefore it is called the sotāpanna stage. Sotāpanna is translated as "stream-enterer." "Pre" means entering. "Stream" means category. First entering the noble category, therefore called "stream-enterer." Question: The discriminative five views are already severed at the first ground. Why is it said that the five views are first severed upon reaching the fourth ground? Answer: Speaking about reality, this is correct. Now speaking about karmic seeds, calling it "severing the five views" is because they are entirely eliminated by seeing.
The sutra says: "Always penetrating through divine eye, divine ear, knowledge of past lives, knowledge of others' minds, and bodily supernatural powers." The interpretation says: Arousing the five supernatural powers. Excluding the power of exhausting outflows. The bodhisattva's exhaustion of outflows is taken according to provisional explanation. Because outflows are not yet exhausted, it is not a true explanation.
The sutra says: "In each moment, able to extinguish all views of the three realms." The interpretation says: The extent of extinguishing obstacles. In this stage, because it corresponds to stream-entry, one can extinguish all views.
The sutra says: "Also through seven incalculable eons practicing the five supernatural powers and Ganges-sand pāramitās, always not leaving the body." The interpretation says: The time period of practicing virtue. This should be understood according to the above.
The sutra says: "Furthermore, Victory-Realization Bodhisattva." The interpretation says: The eighth dharma teacher. Able to understand the two truths, contemplating both conventional and ultimate, able to be hard to surpass, therefore called "Victory-Realization."
The sutra says: "In accordance-with-path patience, with the four fearlessnesses." The interpretation says: Revealing the distinctive practices of the ground. In the fifth ground, depending on accordance-with-path patience, one arouses the four fearlessnesses. Toward external challenges, the mind has no timidity or destruction, therefore called "fearlessness."
The sutra says: "Observing countless truths, inner path treatises, outer path treatises, medical prescriptions, crafts, and incantations, therefore I am a person of all-knowledge." The interpretation says: Sequentially explaining the four fearlessnesses separately. This is the fearlessness of all-knowledge.
【Right page, lower section】
"Observing countless truths" means the two truths, three truths, and eight truths, etc. "Inner path treatises" means logic treatises, etc. "Outer path treatises" means grammar treatises, etc. "Medical prescriptions" means medical science treatises, etc. "Crafts and incantations" are all craft and incantation science treatises. Regarding these four sciences, although they penetrate both inner and outer, now according to one aspect, we provisionally speak of outer speech. Outsiders challenge saying: If Buddha is all-knowing, why does he ask arhats where they came from, etc.? The explanation says: Following worldly customs, he makes these consoling inquiries, not because he doesn't know and therefore asks his disciples. Therefore, the World-Honored One is all-knowing of worldly matters.
The sutra says: "Extinguishing the doubt and other afflictions of the three realms, therefore my characteristics are already exhausted." The interpretation says: The second fearlessness of exhausted outflows. Outsiders challenge saying: If Buddha's outflows are already exhausted, why does he speak lovingly to Rāhula and scold Devadatta? The explanation says: Following worldly customs, he manifests anger and love. Therefore the World-Honored One is not without exhausted outflows.
The sutra says: "Knowing what emerges from each ground, therefore called the path of emergence." The interpretation says: The third fearlessness of the path emerging from suffering. Outsiders challenge saying: If all noble paths emerge from suffering, why do non-learning nobles have sufferings like snake poison? The explanation says: Arhats sever future suffering, therefore it is said they sever suffering. This doesn't discuss the present; because there is none, it is said to be severed.
The sutra says: "Having what does not emerge, therefore called the obstructing path." The interpretation says: The fourth fearlessness of obstructing paths. Outsiders challenge saying: If afflictions obstruct the path, why do stream-enterers, although having love, etc., still have the noble path? Therefore we know that desires, greed and other afflictions cannot obstruct the path. The explanation says: Although not obstructing stream-entry, they can obstruct non-returners, etc.
【Left page, upper section】
Therefore it's not that they don't obstruct the path. It's just that obstructions have degrees of severity.
The sutra says: "Going against the doubts of the three realms." The interpretation says: Removing obstacles. This speaks about karmic seeds, therefore it says removing doubt. Regarding reality, it is already severed, because it is only severed by seeing.
The sutra says: "Cultivating and gathering immeasurable merit, therefore immediately entering the sakṛdāgāmin stage." The interpretation says: The limits of entering the stage. This is called "once-returner." Severing six categories of cultivated delusions in the desire realm, having only the lower three categories remaining. Therefore coming once among humans and gods. The characteristics of this ground can use that, therefore called "once-returner."
The sutra says: "Again practicing various dhāraṇī gates during eight incalculable eons, therefore always practicing immeasurable contemplation with unwavering mind." The interpretation says: The third period of cultivation. This can be understood according to the previous.
The sutra says: "Furthermore, Always-Manifesting Truth." The interpretation says: The ninth dharma teacher. This can be understood according to the previous.
The sutra says: "Dwelling in accordance patience." The interpretation says: Namely, encompassed by the superior grade within accordance patience.
The sutra says: "Making middle-way contemplation." The interpretation says: Entering signless contemplation, separating from existence and non-existence, etc., and making twelve-link dependent origination contemplation, separating from eternalism and nihilism, therefore called "middle-way contemplation."
The sutra says: "Exhausting the accumulation causes and conditions, accumulation karma, and all afflictions of the three realms." The interpretation says: Distinguishing cognitive obstacles. "Accumulation causes" is a general label. The afflictions and karma of the three realms constitute the truth of accumulation. "Karma" is a specific explanation: meritorious, non-meritorious, and other karmas. "Afflictions" means root and secondary afflictions, etc.
The sutra says: "Contemplating neither existence nor non-existence, one characteristic yet without duality." The interpretation says: Distinguishing the characteristics of contemplation. "One characteristic" means the one-taste characteristic of thusness, which is signlessness. "Yet without duality" is the conclusion. One characteristic and sign-
【Left page, lower section】
lessness constitute signlessness.
The sutra says: "Therefore realizing the anāgāmin stage." The interpretation says: Establishing the fruit. Although severing the afflictions of the three realms, subtle ones still appear before one. Therefore in this context, anāgāmin is established. This is translated as "non-returner." In reality, sixth-ground bodhisattvas are still reborn in the desire realm. Speaking from the majority perspective, they are merely called "non-returner."
The sutra says: "Again during nine incalculable eons, cultivating and practicing illumination of the middle way, therefore through joyful power being born in all buddha-lands." The interpretation says: The period of cultivation. Joy means aspiration and delight. Practicing middle-way contemplation, following vow-power to be born in buddha-lands.
The sutra says: "Furthermore, Mysterious-Realization Bodhisattva." The interpretation says: The tenth dharma teacher. "Mysterious" means profoundly distant. "Realization" means penetration. Reaching the edge of applied effort, first entering birthlessness, called "Mysterious-Realization."
The sutra says: "During ten incalculable eons cultivating birthless dharma-joy patience." The interpretation says: From here begins the time period of entering the stage. This is the fourth birthless patience among the five patiences. Among the three grades, this is the inferior grade. Master Zang says: Speaking of "supreme dharma-joy patience"—at the seventh ground one attains birthlessness, first realizing spiritual accordance with dharma-joy, therefore called "dharma-joy." Master Jing says: Aspiring for birthless joy has four grades: first, uninterrupted—because of constant cultivation; second, tranquil—because without distraction; third, firm and密—because not mixed with afflictions; fourth, subtle—because cultivated for long periods. These four have applied effort, therefore delighting in non-effort.
The sutra says: "Extinguishing the habitual causes, karma, and fruits of the three realms." The interpretation says: The portion that is extinguished.