英語訳
## Page Twenty-Four
### [Upper Section]
(Continued from previous page) "(Regarding the statement that) bodily and verbal karma (*shingo-gō*) is (apprehended by) the physical eye" (etc.) — is there no dispute about this interpretation? How (should this be understood)? ([Colophon note:] Eikō (*Eikō*) raised this question at the four-season lectures.)
One person says: In buddha-lands of other directions, names and phrases (*myōku*) are established in dependence upon form (*shiki*). Thinking of the colors (*shiki*) of those buddha-lands is just like the sounds of the world of endurance (*Sahā world*). Therefore, the divine eye (*tengen*) can apprehend nominal verbal karma (*ke no gogō*). Although it is not verbal sound (*goshō*) as such, could it still be called verbal karma?
Another person says: At the level of the mutual use of the faculties (*shogen goyō-i*), the five sense faculties mutually illuminate the external objects (*jin*) of the others. At that time, why would those faculties not illuminate verbal sounds (*goshō*)?
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**Question:** In the sūtra text of the present chapter it says: "Such and so many (World-)Honored Ones, the Buddhas" (etc.). In that case, are these "World-Honored Ones, the Buddhas" referring to the buddhas of the present (time)?
**(Advancing a position):** The commentary says: "(These are) the buddhas of past and future" (etc.).
Regarding this: looking at the sūtra text in accordance with the commentary, above it states "paying homage (*kimiō chōrei*) to all the buddhas of the ten directions in the present" and having completed the salutation — "Such and so many World-Honored Ones, the Buddhas" etc. is therefore a concluding statement of salutation. The buddhas cited are unchanged from what came before and after. How can the buddhas mentioned above and below be described as distinct (entities)? Furthermore, in various sūtras such as the *Ratnakūṭa* (*Hōseki-kyō*), *Śīlasaṃvara* (*Zenkai*), *Vinayaviniścaya* (*Kettei-biruni*), and *Bodhisattvapitaka* (*Bosatsu-zō*), all pay reverence to buddhas who have already attained enlightenment and praise their certification and knowledge. The teachings in the present chapter are also recorded in line with those. How could (this text) additionally include certification by buddhas who have not yet attained enlightenment (i.e., future buddhas)? Based on this, the passage from the chapter on Repentance through Dreaming (*Muken-sange-bon*): "Buddhas of the two feet (*ryōsokuson*) who are always abiding in the realms of the ten directions of the present" (etc.) — this can be taken as a parallel example. How (should this be understood)? ([Colophon note:] Jingyo (*Jingyō*) raised this question at the four-season lectures.)
**Personal view:** When one confronts this objection from one direction, it appears difficult to resolve. But when one withdraws and examines the sūtra text, the definitive judgment of the Venerable Zizhou (*Sōshū Daishi*) most closely follows the sūtra text. Above, "all buddhas of the ten directions in the present" — after paying reverence to the buddhas of the present — next, "those who have already attained *anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi* (supreme perfect enlightenment)": having praised the virtues of benefiting oneself and benefiting others (*jiri-rita*),
### [Lower Section]
(the text is saying that) those World-Honored Ones, the Buddhas, who are endowed with such virtues, also pay homage (*keishu kimiō chōrei*) with body, speech, and mind. If "such and so many World-Honored Ones, the Buddhas" here were (identical to) the present buddhas mentioned above, then the words of salutation would be redundant. "With utmost sincerity, reverentially honoring those World-Honored Ones" would also appear to be superfluous. Therefore the commentary master's (*sōshū daishi's*) interpretation has deeply grasped this intention of the sūtra. However, regarding the use of other sūtras and other chapters as examples: the intention of each sūtra is not uniform. How can everything be objected to in the same manner? The *Dhāraṇīsvararāja-sūtra* (*Jiji-ron*) says: "Paying reverence to all the World-Honored Ones, the Buddhas of past and future and present worlds," and the *Bodhicittotpāda-śāstra* (*Hotsubodaishin-ron*) also says: "Paying reverence to the boundless buddhas of past, future, and present" — both pay reverence to the buddhas of the three times. Such precedents can also be found in other teachings. The objection is largely without basis. Hence there is no fault (in this interpretation). Also it is said: ancient scholars sometimes read the punctuation of the sūtra text as "(paying reverence) also to such and so many World-Honored Ones, the Buddhas." This is probably the intent (of including buddhas of the three times).
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**Question:** The sūtra text says: "That Jewel-King Great-Light-Illuminating Tathāgata (*Hōō-daikōshō-nyorai*) is now present there" (etc.). Among the three bodies (*sanshin* — *dharmakāya*, *sambhogakāya*, *nirmāṇakāya*), which body is this?
**(Advancing a position):** The commentary says: "The *sambhoga*-body and the *dharma*-body always abide, therefore it says 'now present'" (etc.).
Regarding this: the self-nature body (*jishōshin*, *svabhāvikakāya*, i.e., *dharmakāya*) is an unchanging, constantly abiding principle (*ri*), apart from arising and ceasing, beginning and ending. The self-enjoyment body (*jijuyūshin*, *svasaṃbhoga-kāya*) is a realm (accessible) only between buddha and buddha, a body pervading the entire dharmadhātu. How can one point to a particular direction and place and say "(this buddha) is now present there"? Moreover, in (this buddha's) teaching of the Dharma, there is (said to be) the benefit gained at three assemblies (*san'e*), and all (the fruits attained) are the fruit of arhathood (*rakan-ka*). In the two bodies of *sambhoga* and *dharma*, how could such a meaning (teaching in a specific location and arhat-fruition) possibly exist? Hence it is known that (this) is not the two bodies of *sambhoga* and *dharma*. How (should this be understood)? ([Colophon note:] Jingyo raised this question at the four-season lectures.)
**Personal view:** Truly this matter is greatly perplexing. However, this is a question-and-answer in the commentary. Answering it: "(The sūtra says) the transformation body and response body appear and disappear in accordance with the capacities of beings; the *sambhoga*-body and *dharma*-body always abide — therefore it says 'now present'" (etc.). Although this answer exists, its meaning is difficult to grasp.
## Page Twenty-Five
### [Upper Section]
Trying to provisionally establish the meaning: that Buddha (*Hōō-daikōshō-nyorai*) has three bodies. Throughout the three great *asaṃkhyeya* kalpas (*sangi-kō*) of Śākyamuni, (the fact that) that Buddha exists without interruption refers to that Buddha's self-enjoyment body (*jijuyūshin*) and *dharma*-body. The transformation body (*henge-shin*) and the other-enjoyment body (*tajuyū-shin*) are, depending on the capacities of beings, not fixed as to whether they exist or not during the three (great) *asaṃkhyeya* (kalpas). That the assembly at the time of Śākyamuni sees (that Buddha) is (the fact that they are seeing) that Buddha's transformation body (*keshin-butsu*). At that time, since the spiritual capacities of beings are ripe, (that Buddha) is present and teaching the Dharma in response to those capacities. (The transformation body) may be interrupted, or may continue to teach the Dharma. This is not like the two bodies of *sambhoga* and *dharma*. The intent of the commentary's interpretation should be understood in this way. Restating the intent: those at the assembly at the time of Śākyamuni who see that Buddha's body are (seeing) that Buddha's transformation body (*keshin*). At that time, since (that Buddha) is teaching the Dharma in that world, (the assembly) sees (it) — they are not seeing the self-enjoyment body or the *dharma*-body.
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**Question:** The sūtra text says: "Reaching the stage of non-retrogression, (the stage of) the one-life replacement (*isshō-fusho*)" (etc.). [Furigana: Regarding the stage of non-retrogression — (raised by) Eisun of the four-season lectures.] How does the Venerable Zizhou interpret this?
**(Advancing a position):** "(From) the second ground to the ninth ground" (etc.).
Regarding this: examining the sūtra from beginning to end, and seeking (the meaning of) the stage of non-retrogression: during the three great *asaṃkhyeya* kalpas, at the stage before the (ten bodhisattva) grounds (*jizen*), one hundred great kalpas are mentioned; at the second kalpa, it says "attaining the forbearance of non-arising (*mushōnin*)," (and) emerging from the first stage, the stage of Extreme Joy (*Gokki-chi*, the first *bhūmi*); at the third kalpa, the first through eighth grounds are mentioned, (and it) says "reaching non-retrogression"; at the stage of completion (*jōman-i*), "the one-life replacement" (*isshō-fusho*) appears. Should one say that the stage of non-retrogression is the eighth ground? Moreover, in the customary understanding of the sacred teachings, the Immovable Ground (*Fudō-chi*, the eighth *bhūmi*) is named "non-retrogression" — to establish this name from the second ground (onwards) finds no textual evidence. How (should this be understood)?
**Personal view:** This matter is indeed most perplexing. One cannot readily establish (a definitive answer). Provisionally turning over this foolish consideration: the intent of the commentary, in the seven-ground-scheme (*shichichi hairiū*), calls the stage before the grounds "the first aspiration toward enlightenment (*shohosshin-jū*)," calls the stage of superior intention (*zōjō-igyoku-jū*) "attaining the forbearance of non-arising," and
### [Lower Section]
in the stage of practicing right conduct (*gyōshōgyō-chi*), enters into the sūtra's expression "non-retrogression." (The text says) "from the second ground to the seventh ground" — because from the second ground one "severs the obstruction of wrong conduct (*jagyō-shō*)" and "departs from the delusion of transgression" (*gogon-gu*), and is therefore in the stage of "practicing right conduct." The stage of determination (*ketsujo-chi*) and the stage of determined conduct (*ketsujo-gyō-chi*) are the eighth and ninth grounds. "Reaching non-retrogression" refers to these. The one-life replacement (*isshō-fusho*) means reaching the stage of ultimate attainment (*kukyō-chi*) — the stage of the ultimate perfection of causes (*in-kukyō-i*) at the tenth ground. Briefly stated, the stage of the lineage (*shushō-chi*) and the stage of the Tathāgata (*nyorai-chi*) are omitted. Hence "reaching non-retrogression" is the commentary's interpretation of the stage of determination and the stage of determined conduct (eighth and ninth grounds). "(From) the second ground to the ninth ground, seven" is the commentary's interpretation of the stage of practicing right conduct — (meaning) "from the second ground to the tenth ground, the seventh among the nine grounds." Since the stage of practicing right conduct (*gyōshōgyō-chi*) originally refers to (the grounds) from the second to the seventh, the intent is to say "up to the seventh when (counting) from the second ground to the ninth ground." If that is so, it is not saying that the name "non-retrogression" (applies) from the second ground to the ninth ground. This is perhaps a distorted argument (*heki-rongi*). If one follows the advancing position (*shin-ryōkan*), it says "from the seventh (ground) to the stage of ultimate attainment (*kukyō-i*), which is the tenth ground" — is it saying "from the seventh ground up to the stage of ultimate attainment, calling (this the) ultimate perfection of causes (*in no kukyō*), and calling (this) the tenth ground"?
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**Question:** In the context of the sūtra text's clarification of the heavenly beings of the form realm (*shikikai no shoten*) — does the fourth dhyāna (*dai-shi-zen*) have a place of support for the ground of clouds (*un-chi no shoye*), or how (should this be understood)?
**Both sides (presented):** If (a ground of clouds) exists: the heavens of the fourth meditation (*dai-shi-jōryo-ten*) are called "Cloudless Heaven" (*Muun-ten*). This tells us that the fourth dhyāna has no ground of clouds as a basis. Based on this, in the sūtras and śāstras it has been determined that there is no ground of clouds as a basis (in the fourth dhyāna). Accordingly, in the present commentary, it is interpreted as "abiding apart from clouds." If one follows this (and there is no ground of clouds): in another place by the Master (the *Rokumondara-nikyō-sho* — commentary on the *Six-gate Dhāraṇī Sūtra*), it is judged that "there is a ground of clouds as a basis." How (should this be understood)? ([Colophon note:] Gyōken (*Gyōken*) raised this question at the four-season lectures.)
**Personal view:** Regarding the places where the heavenly beings reside, in accordance with the superiority or inferiority of their karmic fruition (*kahō*), their locations are each distinct, differing in upper and lower (positions). (Continues below.)