英語訳
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the color of this grass blade. Since it is a dharma produced by causes and conditions, although it lacks self-nature, it is not completely nonexistent. Like an illusion, like a dream, neither existent nor nonexistent. This is called other-dependence. Regarding this illusory grass blade's green color, ordinary people grasp it as real color. When grasping thus, what appears in the mind is precisely illusory green color. What appears to emotion is the characteristic of real existence of green. This characteristic has no principle-basis. This is called augmentative imagined construction. Or there are those who hold empty views who deny this color and grasp it as completely nonexistent. When grasping thus, what appears in the mind resembles the characteristic of complete nonexistence. What appears to emotion is the characteristic of real complete nonexistence. This characteristic has no principle-basis. This is called diminutive imagined construction. Now these augmentative and diminutive falsely grasped characteristics that take [things] as really existent or completely nonexistent are, within this grass blade's green color, at all constant times, at all present times, completely separate from everything, immutably and permanently abiding. This principle is truly real, neither arising nor perishing. This is precisely called perfectly accomplished nature. Therefore these three natures are neither identical nor separate. <<Marginal note: Having pointed to one matter, all dharmas are like this.>> Question: The characteristics of dharmas are extremely profound and their meaning is easily confused. Could you please cite analogies to clarify their characteristics? Answer: In the verses of the Compendium Treatise, the analogy of snake, rope, and hemp is cited for clarification. The general meaning is: in a dark night there is a rope. A foolish person sees it and thinks it's a snake. Various fears arise based on this. Eyes become dizzy, mind becomes agitated, hands and feet tremble. At that time an awakened person teaches and causes understanding. Because delusion is deep, sudden awakening is difficult. Through repeated contemplation, gradual awakening occurs. Finally removing that delusion, suddenly knowing the snake's emptiness. Having known thus, seeing it is merely rope. That rope's appearance extremely resembles a snake's form. Because of similarity, foolish eyes see it deludedly as a snake. This is one level of awakening. However, still grasping the rope as a real thing. Still repeatedly contemplating, finally knowing the rope's emptiness. Its nature is precisely hemp with no real rope. The rope's characteristics are merely produced by numerous conditions. Illusorily existent like a phantom, neither existent nor empty. That
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hemp is precisely neither existent nor nonexistent—the rope's true nature. Those real snake characteristics and real rope characteristics are completely separated within this hemp. The dharmas of the three natures are also like this. The foolish person's deluded eyes represent the able-universal-constructor. Various fears represent birth-death suffering. The awakened person's teaching represents buddhas and bodhisattvas. Real snake characteristics represent real self-characteristics. Suddenly knowing snake's emptiness represents knowing emptiness of persons. Real rope characteristics represent real dharma-characteristics. Knowing rope's emptiness represents knowing emptiness of dharmas. The false rope represents other-dependent essence. Resembling snake form represents provisional self-aspect. The hemp nature represents perfectly accomplished [nature]. In this hemp constantly lacking real snake and real rope characteristics represents principle's characteristic-lessness. When analogizing thus, wonderful principle can be revealed. <<Marginal note: Using interpretive intention, I privately elaborate the analogy.>> Thus the three natures are neither identical nor separate. Therefore this is called one-level middle way. Question: Is this present imagined constructed nature partial emptiness? Answer: It is not partial emptiness. Why? Although its essence is completely nonexistent, its characteristics clearly appear to deluded emotion. One cannot further say there is no such matter. One should understand: these characteristics are existence that is precisely emptiness. Explaining this, it is called constructed nature. Therefore the Doctrinal Forest Chapter states: "Speaking of nonexistence as nonexistent, one can also speak of existence. Because the two types of self and dharmas appear to current emotion." <<Marginal note: Text>> Thus although speaking of existence, in principle and reality it is completely without essence. It is merely deluded emotion calculating it as existent. One should understand: this emptiness is emptiness that is precisely existence. Explaining this wonderful emptiness, it is called characteristic-lessness nature. Therefore the chapter also states: "Imagined construction is nonexistent. Know that self and dharmas are both eliminated." <<Marginal note: Text>> Therefore this is middle way. Question: Is this present other-dependent false dharma partial existence? Answer: Since it is called "false," how could it be partial existence? Because causally produced dharmas lack self-nature, they are explained as empty. Because false characteristics exist, they are explained as existent. Because it definitely does not retain the existence of existence, it is called other-dependent arising nature.
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Because it definitely does not retain the nonexistence of nonexistence, it is called arising-without-self-nature. Therefore it is also middle way. Question: Is this present perfectly accomplished nature's principle partial existence? Answer: Since it is called characteristic-less principle, how could it be partial existence? Dharma-selflessness nature is separated from all hindrances. Like space, all false thoughts are necessarily distant. Therefore it is explained as empty. This empty principle is truly real and constant. Therefore it is explained as existent. One should understand: this existence is existence that is precisely emptiness. Therefore it is called perfectly accomplished nature. One should understand: this emptiness is emptiness that is precisely existence. Therefore it is called ultimate naturelessness. Therefore it is also middle way. Question: Is the grasped emotion-existence side completely existent? Is this present principle-nonexistence side completely nonexistent? Answer: This is also not so. Speaking of "emotion-existence," since it is not real existence, whether establishing augmentative characteristics or establishing diminutive characteristics, partial deluded emotional imagination has no fixed characteristics. Therefore it is also middle way. These present augmentative and diminutive existence-emptiness characteristics cannot both be obtained. This is called principle-nonexistence. How could it be partial emptiness? Therefore it is also middle way. Question: Is other-dependent provisional existence completely existent? Is this present real nonexistence completely nonexistent? Answer: This is also not so. Existence that is separated from both augmentation and diminution—this is called provisional existence. How could it be partial existence? Therefore middle way. Nonexistence where both augmentation and diminution are empty—this is called real nonexistence. How could it be partial nonexistence? Therefore middle way. Question: Is perfectly accomplished characteristic-less emptiness completely empty? Is this present true existence completely existent? Answer: This is also not so. Where both augmentation and diminution are absent is called characteristic-lessness. How could it be partial emptiness? This principle being true is called true existence. How could it also be partial existence? Therefore it is also middle way. Therefore, within the one nature of the grasped, because there are emotion-existence and principle-nonexistence, it is collectively called middle way. The two gates each also do not remain in extreme paths. Within the one nature of other-dependence, because there are provisional existence and real nonexistence, it is collectively called middle way. Within the one nature of perfect accomplishment, because there are characteristic-lessness and
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true reality, it is collectively called middle way. These two gates also each individually do not remain in extreme paths. Question: Are the grasped emotion-existence, other-dependent provisional existence, and perfectly accomplished true reality completely distinct meanings? Are the grasped principle-nonexistence, other-dependent real nonexistence, and perfectly accomplished characteristic-lessness also completely distinct meanings? Answer: This is also not so. Grasped emotion-existence fundamentally appears upon other-dependent provisional existence. Why? Since dharma-essence is fundamentally completely nonexistent, what delusion could give rise to grasping? Though not real existence, it resembles real existence. Therefore various deluded emotions, deluded by this provisional existence, have characteristics appear to current emotion. How could this be definitely distinct from other-dependent provisional existence? However, it is not partially identical. One should understand: this is precisely neither identical nor separate. This present provisional existence fundamentally arises from perfectly accomplished true reality. If there were no immutable principle, how could such matters arise? Though not numerous phenomenal characteristics, there are individual dharma-natures. Therefore when causes and conditions combine, false phenomenal characteristics can be accomplished. However, it is not partially identical. One should understand: this is precisely neither identical nor separate. That grasped principle-nonexistence returns to other-dependent real nonexistence. Why? Regarding causally arisen dharmas' lack of self-nature, what is negated as self-nature is precisely naturally arising nature corresponding to the reality of self and dharmas. However, that principle-nonexistence completely negates characteristics. This present real nonexistence is also meaning upon essence. One should understand: this is also not completely identical, not completely separate. This present other-dependent real nonexistence meaning precisely returns to perfectly accomplished characteristic-less meaning. Immutable true principle constantly separates from numerous characteristics. Because it is the principle of that lack of self-nature. However, that real nonexistence belonging to provisional existence and this characteristic-lessness belonging to true reality are therefore also precisely not completely identical, not completely separate. Therefore the three natures are not separate essences, nor are they identical as one. At the time of identity: the grasped emptiness is precisely the emptiness of dependence and perfection. The existence of dependence and perfection is precisely the grasped existence. At the time of separation: these are also different. Matters