英語訳
【Right Page】
【Top right margin】
344
【Upper right margin horizontal】
Kanshin Kakumu-shō, Middle Volume
【Lower right margin horizontal】
Thirty-two
【Two-column format】
【Upper section】
<<Marginal note: Text>> This refers to what is found in the fundamental sūtra, the *Saṃdhinirmocana-sūtra*, where Bodhisattva Suśuddhamatī raises the case of numerous lesser bodhisattvas at the stage of resolute faith who each cling to and dispute the identity and difference of principle and phenomena. Some say they are "completely identical in characteristics," others say they are "completely separate in characteristics," and others remain hesitant in their analytical examination, failing to generate definitive understanding—all sorts of different [views]. When they made inquiry of the Tathāgata, the Tathāgata answered them. Regarding the two meanings of partial identity and partial separation, the Buddha himself presented various critiques and refutations of each, greatly rebuking them saying: "Foolish, obstinate, and dull. Neither clear nor good. Not practicing in accordance with principle." The text is extensive and broad, so one can examine it by reading it. The *Consciousness-Only Treatise* and others arose precisely from this. The main point is: if phenomena and principle were completely separate, suchness should not be the true nature of all dharmas. Because nature is precisely the ultimate reality of dharmas. If phenomena and principle were completely identical, suchness should not be truly real and eternal. Because it could undergo transformation according to conditions and be subject to arising and perishing. All other difficulties are as in the original text. Because they are numerous, they are not included here. Because such principles are all inevitable, regarding the mutual opposition of phenomena and principle, the two gates of non-identity and non-separation are equal with no further distinctions. Neither establishing unity as fundamental nor establishing difference as fundamental can be accomplished. Because there is no basis whatsoever. Question: Phenomena have characteristics, principle is without characteristics. Phenomena can arise and perish, principle can be eternally abiding. Phenomena are numerous, principle is equal. Such differences are truly difficult to mix into one. If so, they should be completely separate. Why is there a gate of identity? Answer: If phenomena were solid and real, this difficulty would be reasonable. Since phenomena are already false, why reach such doubt? Because they are accomplished solely through other-power and have no self-nature, though they seem to have characteristics, they have no fixed real characteristics. Though they seem to arise and perish, they have no real arising and perishing. Though they seem numerous, they have no real multiplicity. All are inconceivable like dream-states. Therefore they do not contradict the characteristic-less true principle. They harmoniously merge with each other in mutual identity. Question: If so, they should also be completely
【Lower section】
identical in characteristics. Why is there a separate gate? Answer: That meaning was previously clarified. Why trouble with this question? Though lacking fixed real characteristics, they are not without false characteristics. Though lacking real arising and perishing, they are not without false arising and perishing. Though lacking real distinctions, they are not without false distinctions. Because true principle is not like this, there is also the gate of non-identity. Question: This meaning is difficult to conceive. Please clarify it by drawing an analogy. Answer: The water surface is tranquil without heights or depths, without appearance or form. When conditions like wind arrive, waves suddenly arise. Their force is sometimes high, sometimes low, their shape like flowers or silk. Now these phenomenal characteristics arise when conditions come and cease when conditions depart. The essential nature of water does not begin to arise due to the coming of conditions, nor does it perish following the exhaustion of conditions. <<Marginal note: Now provisionally taking non-arising and non-perishing in relation to waves>> Therefore water is used to analogize fundamental existence and eternal abiding. How could it be identical in all respects with those waves? However, waves are entirely water. What separate material substance exists outside water? When seen thus, they are also truly non-separate. This means wave-characteristics are provisionally existent but substantially non-existent. Though seeming to have characteristics, they lack fixed real characteristics. Though seeming to arise and cease, they lack real arising and ceasing. Though seeming numerous, they lack real multiplicity. Because illusory dependent origination is inconceivable. If waves were solid and real, they would be completely separate from water. Because waves are false, they harmonize with water in non-identity and non-separation. The non-identity and non-separation of phenomena and principle in all dharmas can be understood through this analogy. Question: This present analogy is an analogy for mutual identity. Water and waves are completely one substance with no separate gates whatsoever. Therefore the wave-characteristics arising depending on conditions like wind truly have no substance. They are merely the heights and depths of the water surface. Resembling flower-like characteristics is merely resemblance—they truly have no such characteristics. If this serves as analogy, then dharmas should also have no separate dharmas outside true principle. Conditioned phenomenal characteristics are all objects before delusion. Now drawing this as analogy, what is the intention? Answer: This difficulty is quite wrong. The gate of non-identity meaning was previously fully
【Left Page】
【Top left margin】
345
【Upper left margin horizontal】
Kanshin Kakumu-shō, Middle Volume
【Lower left margin horizontal】
Thirty-three
【Two-column format】
【Upper section】
clarified already. Does the above difficulty completely not permit the arising and ceasing of waves? Or does it also completely not permit the eternal abiding of the water element? If permitting neither, this is probably stubborn attachment. If permitting both, the gate of non-identity meaning naturally establishes itself. Resemblance is provisional. It is not complete non-existence. If as the difficulty suggests, one would probably mistake provisional dharmas for non-existent dharmas. Provisional dharmas and non-existent dharmas have distinct meanings. Do not let them become confused. "Provisional" means the meaning of both existent and non-existent. "Non-existent" means complete non-existence with no aspect of existence whatsoever. These present waves are provisional, not non-existent. If completely non-existent, why would their characteristics arise when conditions come and their characteristics cease when conditions are exhausted? If permitting them to be provisional, why raise difficulties against the previous answer? Therefore this analogy successfully establishes the analogy of non-identity and non-separation. If as suggested in the difficulty, this would probably be completely rejecting phenomenal characteristics. If phenomenal characteristics are non-existent, true principle is also non-existent. True principle is not independently true. It is necessarily the truth of the conventional. Rejecting both truth and convention is precisely the great wrong view. If still saying "no phenomena, principle exists," that meaning inevitably cannot be obtained. If saying "not rejecting phenomena because they exist before delusion," if so, they don't exist before awakening. Why permit phenomena? Because "existing in emotion, non-existent in principle" is not the dharma-essence. If depending on this to permit phenomena before awakening, then complete mutual identity breaks itself without being criticized. Because on the principle of non-arising, false arising and ceasing inevitably have mutual divisions that are not merely one. If saying "because they are false, they are mutually identical," also because they are false, it is difficult for them to be definitely identical. This is precisely the meaning of non-identity and non-separation. What is the meaning of complete mutual identity? If depending on this to say "I permit the meaning of non-identity and non-separation," then the doctrinal gate of dharma-characteristics naturally establishes itself. The hundred dharmas' characteristics and natures, and the natural five lineages are all within false phenomenal characteristics—the gate of non-identity. This is precisely the reason for the non-unified distinctions before those illusory persons and dharmas. If further explaining that "phenomena before awakening,
【Lower section】
though they are phenomenal characteristics, because their dharma-essence is eternally abiding, neither arising nor perishing, they are mutually identical," are the said phenomenal characteristics produced by causes and conditions or not produced by causes and conditions? If produced by causes and conditions, how are they not arising and not perishing? Dependently originated yet not perishing also contradicts correct principle. If not produced by causes and conditions, they are not the phenomena presently under discussion. What is presently under discussion concerns the meaning of identity and difference in relation to dependently originated phenomena. Moreover, are those phenomena characterized or characteristicless? If characterized, they must be produced by causes and conditions. Because causeless spontaneity contradicts correct principle. Taking spontaneity as cause is also an evil cause. If characteristicless, they are precisely suchness-principle. Why speak of "phenomenal characteristics, dharma-essence eternally abiding" wanting to establish the meaning of mutual identity of phenomena and principle? If further explaining "suchness is called phenomena because it is dharma-essence, eternally abiding phenomena are precisely these phenomena. The said characteristics are the characteristics of true characteristics. Therefore they are precisely deep principle," this is also not what is presently under discussion. What is presently under discussion concerns dependent origination. If further explaining "dependently originated phenomena are precisely the characteristics of true principle. Therefore phenomena are precisely principle, not arising and not perishing. What separate true principle exists beyond this?" there are still the previous difficulties. Because dependently originated phenomena yet not arising and perishing cannot be obtained. If saying "their arising and perishing are provisional, resembling arising and perishing, therefore subsumed into true principle's non-arising and non-perishing," this is precisely our school's gate of non-separation within non-identity and non-separation. Why make it a separate meaning and cause difficulties? Generally, the detailed establishment of the three-natures gate, in the comprehensive analytical chapters, temporal teachings, etc., the meaning is evident. One can examine it by reading.
【End】
Kanshin Kakumu-shō, Middle Volume