英語訳
## Page Fourteen
### [Upper Section]
(The interpretation "namely, the eight phases and so on") is because (the text) excludes the Buddha-body and takes the remaining characteristics — hence it is expressed thus. Or perhaps the meaning is that "the eight-phase Transformation Body also falls under this phrase (Transformation Body that is also Application Body)."
Next, regarding the interpretation in the "Three Bodies Chapter" — this is not (addressing) "the matter of the Buddha-body while the Buddha was present in the world," but rather it resolves the question of why, given that the Buddha also manifested bodies of different types (*irui no mi*) while present in the world, (the text) does not discuss those, but only speaks of the bodies of different types after (the Buddha's) passing. The import is: when the Buddha was present in the world, arousing transformations was easy, and so the bodies of different types during that period are not discussed; after (the Buddha's) passing it is difficult, and so only those (cases) are explained. That "(when) the principal is present, arousing transformation is easy" means: the "principal" refers to the Buddha, and when the Buddha is present in the world, arousing transformations is easy — so it is said.
Next: the Application Body (*ōshin*) and the Other-Enjoyment Body (*tajuyūshin*) — I suspect that in the intent of the present sūtra these differ somewhat. The Application Body is named after "the Buddha-body that manifests in response to the capacity for transformation" (*ke no ki*), and it takes in "those at the four wholesome roots who transform (others) and those at the grounds above who transform (others)." The Other-Enjoyment Body, by contrast, exclusively takes only "those at the grounds above who transform (others)." (The two,) then, differ in breadth and narrowness.
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**Question:** ([Colophon note:] This question was posed by Shiki no Ryūei.) In the sūtra text, as it clarifies the characteristics of the three bodies, can "the body seen equally by the three vehicles" be subsumed under the Application Body? Two positions. If it is so subsumed, (one must ask:) subsuming the body of the Buddha seen equally by the three vehicles under the Transformation Body is the standard, universal establishment found in all teachings. Why then would one subsume it under the Application Body? Looking directly at the sūtra text: "The Application Body is the body of the pre-ground stage" (etc.). The body seen equally by the three vehicles is not limited to those at the grounds above (*jijō*), but extends to the two vehicles and common beings (*ijō*). One clearly understands that the sūtra's intent is that the Application Body is narrowly limited to "the thirty-minds (*sanjisshin*) who transform (others)," and is not the broadly understood "body seen equally by the three vehicles." Accordingly, in the present commentary, it is interpreted as being "subsumed under the Transformation Body (*keshin*)." Yet if, following this understanding, that is the case, then in another passage the Grand Master (*Daishi*) has judged it as "subsumed under the Application Body." How (should this be understood)?
**Personal view:** As for the intent of the present sūtra — when it simply lists the three bodies, (the text) agrees with the explanations of the various teachings: the bodies of the five destinies
### [Lower Section]
and the body seen equally by the three vehicles are all subsumed under the Transformation Body. For the Application Body, (the sūtra) exclusively takes "those at the four wholesome roots who transform (others)," and by raising the initial (stage) it makes manifest the transformative function of the later ten grounds. On this account, the commentary, in interpreting the passage "manifesting various kinds of bodies — this is called the Transformation Body," says "namely, the eight phases and so on," revealing that it takes in the body seen equally by the three vehicles. In interpreting the sūtra's passage on the Application Body — "namely, the Tathāgatas, for the sake of bodhisattvas, etc." (etc.) — it interprets this as: those who manifest (the body) solely for bodhisattvas are "those at the four wholesome roots who transform (others)" and "those at the ten grounds who transform (others)." This is precisely the establishment of the three bodies in accordance with the various teachings.
Then, at the time of distinguishing the four phrases, (the text) enters one level deeper into the detailed gate, and divides (the three bodies) into four (categories). For the Transformation Body, only "the bodies of the five destinies" are taken, and the Buddha-form is not taken. For the Application Body, "those at the four wholesome roots who transform (others)" and "those at the ten grounds who transform (others)" are taken. The body seen equally by the three vehicles is taken under the phrase "both Application and Transformation Body." That is to say: among the three bodies, for the "Buddha-body of the Transformation Body," it is taken under "both phrases" (*guiku*, the phrase of Transformation-that-is-also-Application Body); for the bodies of the five destinies that are not Buddha (forms), they are taken under the "single phrase" (*tanku*, the phrase of Transformation Body but not Application Body). Whereas the various teachings do not explain this detailed gate, the present sūtra goes one level deeper, and reveals that this is the explanation of the meaning of the finer subdivision. If that is the case, then the chapter-master's (*shōshu*) interpretation that "the body seen equally by the three vehicles is called the Application Body" is an interpretation of the "four-phrase distinction gate" of the present sūtra. Accordingly, the chapter (Three Bodies Chapter) — taking "the body manifested for the pre-ground stage, the three vehicles, and bodhisattvas at the ten grounds" and calling it "the Application Body" — is a combined interpretation of both "the phrase 'Application Body but not Transformation Body'" and "the phrase 'Transformation Body that is also Application Body.'" To interpret this in detail: "manifesting a Buddha-body for the three vehicles" is taken under the "both phrases" (i.e., Transformation-that-is-also-Application); "manifesting (a body) for those at the pre-ground four wholesome roots" and "the body manifested for those at the ten grounds" should be said to be taken under "only the phrase 'Application Body but not Transformation Body.'" Therefore, (this) does not at all conflict with the interpretations of Cien (*Kuiji*, 慈恩) and Zizhou (*Huizhao*, 淄州), does it?
## Page Fifteen
### [Upper Section]
The above debate on "manifesting various kinds of bodies — this is called the Transformation Body" can be answered using this doctrine. It is a difficult debate. ([Colophon note:] On reflection, the original debate is truly a text of great difficulty. Hence I have especially added many glosses in *kana*.)
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**Question:** Can the Other-Enjoyment Body (*tajuyūshin*) — (which is) the transformative body of the bodhisattva of the portion-birth body (*funshin*) at the seventh ground and below — be subsumed under the phrase "Application Body alone, but not Transformation Body"?
**Response:** In the commentary, (it falls under) the phrase "both Application and Transformation Body" (etc.).
Regarding this: The Other-Enjoyment Body and its transformative function at the grounds above (*jijō*) should fall under "the phrase 'Application Body alone, not Transformation Body.'" Why is it said, in the same way as those who transform (others) at the pre-ground stage, to fall under the phrase "both Application and Transformation Body"? By analogy, just as "those at the eighth ground and above who transform (others)" (fall under) the phrase "Application Body alone, not Transformation Body," how much more so should "those at the four wholesome roots who transform (others)" not be said to fall under the phrase "Application Body alone, not Transformation Body"?
**Personal view:** The present interpretation is indeed difficult to reconcile. Offering a provisional reconciliation: the intent of the commentary is that "the Buddha-body of the enlightenment-under-the-bodhi-tree seen equally by the three vehicles — this is a Transformation Body that is also an Application Body" (etc.). This is precisely the primary meaning (*hongi*). Therefore, what follows below — that "those bodhisattvas of the portion-birth body at the seventh ground and below who transform (others) also fall under this phrase" — is a secondary, supplementary argument (*katawara*) beyond the primary meaning, whereby (the commentary) works out that those (bodhisattvas) can also be subsumed under this phrase. It appears that (the commentary) is saying: "In being subsumed under this phrase also, there is no doctrinal inconsistency." In reality, those (bodhisattvas) should be subsumed under the phrase "Application Body but not Transformation Body." However, the reason for saying that those bodies also fall under the phrase "both Application and Transformation Body" is as follows. In the *Amitābha Sūtra Tongzan* (*阿弥陀経通賛*), it is stated: "In the land of the reward-Buddha, bodhisattvas of the transformation-birth body (*henyaku-shin*) are born; in the pure land of the transformation-Buddha, bodhisattvas of the portion-birth body (*funshin*) are born" (etc.) (summary). According to the intent of this interpretation, bodhisattvas of the portion-birth body at the seventh ground and below do not appear to be born in the land of the reward-Buddha (Other-Enjoyment Land). Although there are two interpretations, for now, one should say that bodhisattvas of the portion-birth body are not born in the Other-Enjoyment Land. However, the present commentary's statement that "those bodhisattvas of the portion-birth body are (the recipients of) the transformative function of the Other-Enjoyment Body" means:
### [Lower Section]
since the actual bodies (*jisshin*) of bodhisattvas of the portion-birth body exist within the two realms of desire and form, they do not have the meaning of being "born" in the Other-Enjoyment Land; yet they (may) go there and hear the Dharma-teaching of the Other-Enjoyment (Body). If that is the case, the bodhisattvas of the portion-birth body in the Other-Enjoyment Land are (present there as) transformations (*ke*) and not as actual (residents); whereas bodhisattvas of the transformation-birth body are the primary recipients of transformation (*shōsoke*) in that land, and they possess actual bodies. (Thus) they should be the primary objects of the transformative function of the reward-Buddha. In that respect (the side of the transformation-birth body), both the one who transforms (*nōke*) and the one being transformed (*shoke*) are actual. Accordingly, on the side of the portion-birth body, both the one who transforms and the one being transformed can be said to be "transformation" (*ke*). Since the transforming (agent) is exclusively the Buddha-body, (the Other-Enjoyment Body in relation to them) is called both "Application Body" and "Transformation Body," perhaps. The import of the interpretation is difficult to grasp. This is a tentative reconciliation.
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**Question:** In the sūtra text, on (the topic of) expounding the establishment of the three bodies, can it be said that the Other-Enjoyment Body passes through kalpas between a preceding Buddha and a succeeding Buddha? Two positions. If it passes through many kalpas, then while the capacity-roots (*kikon*) of those to be transformed are continuous, how can the transforming Tathāgata be interrupted? Furthermore, the transformative function belonging to a single Buddha — how could it not be continuous? If one insists it is interrupted, how could it not be called "continuous and constant" (*sōzoku jō*)? If, following this, (one says) it does not pass through kalpas, then in the *Guanyin Shouji Jing* (観音授記経) and in certain Mahāyāna sūtras, it is stated: "After Amitābha Buddha enters *parinirvāṇa*, the True Dharma remains in the world, equal to (the length of) the Buddha's lifespan" (etc.). The sūtra text clearly indicates that kalpas pass after (the Buddha's) passing (as can be seen). How (should this be understood)?
**Personal view:** That the Other-Enjoyment Body is "uninterrupted and constant" (*fudan jō*) is drawn from the teaching of the *Zhuangyan Fodi* (荘厳仏地, *Buddhabhūmivyākhyā*). Therefore, discussing the reality with respect to a single Buddha, there is no interruption. However, when a bodhisattva of the first ground advances to the second ground, the Other-Enjoyment Body that transforms the first-ground (bodhisattva) does not extinguish that body but gradually grows larger. At this point, the first-ground bodhisattva still sees the body within the scope he originally saw. The second-ground bodhisattva sees the gradually enlarged body, and in addition also sees what the first-ground (bodhisattva) saw