英語訳
## Right Page: Self-Practice Contemplation (Jigyo Shii) — by Ryōhen
**The Three Worlds Are Mind Only; Illusion-Emptiness, Non-Thought**
Sitting in proper posture, one contemplates: The conditioned dharmas of existence arise and perish without end or beginning, flowing along until they arrive at this present thought. Before and after this thought lie countless births and deaths; through hundreds of thousands of dust-kalpas, words and reflections are equally extinguished, and there is no boundary to be found. All of those boundless thoughts are, in their totality, nothing. Since they have already perished before they were born, they cannot be grasped. One should reflect that the vast multitude of contaminated and uncontaminated mental activities, all the physical and mental receptacles of pure and defiled nature, arise together and perish together. Therefore, the extreme limit of that momentary flow of change does not exceed the span of a single thought-moment. This single thought-moment barely arises and swiftly perishes. A rushing torrent or a flash of lightning is insufficient as a metaphor. Arising and perishing are swift; one thought-moment perpetually turns. Deluded emotions are confused by this and take it to be permanently one and the same. Now, upon observing it, one sees it exists only within a single mind — as if awakening from a dream, one recognizes it as mind-only. Within this single thought-moment there is boundlessness; there are infinite minds. Now, this mind and its objects are precisely the two functions of perceiving subject (ālambana-grāhaka) and perceived object (ālambana): they are transformations of the mind's own essence. That self-essence of mind is, as direct perception, bright and pure; there is no distinction between self and other, here and there. This essence appears to transform and give rise to manifold functions. Mount Sumeru and the Iron Enclosure — all of these are functions of the mind. Since they are indeed transformed appearances of phenomenal functions, how could they have substance apart from mind? The substance of function is the substance of the essence itself. Since there can be no substance of function outside of it, by this principle of reasoning: all things are mind only. It is like the light and reflected images within a mirror — the substance is the mirror itself, and there is nothing outside the mirror. Within this one mind there is cause and there is effect.
The three dharmas revolve in mutual dependence, provisionally established within a single thought-moment. How could the dharmas of cause and effect be definitively separate and different? Cause is the principle of productive power (neng-sheng) residing in effect; effect is the principle of being produced (suo-sheng) residing in cause. Through cause one sees effect; apart from cause there is no effect. Through effect one sees cause; apart from effect there is no cause. Cause and effect mutually cannot stand independently. Their self-essence is false: the one is empty, the other is empty, and cause and effect are, in reality, nothing. Is there any dharma beyond this? It is like illusions conjured through the power of spells and medicines — because they are provisionally combined, they seem to exist though they do not, and their self-nature is empty. Now, contemplating this principle, even the present moment does not exist. Already empty and still, it is like facing the great void of space. Yet this very appearance of emptiness should also be eliminated. This contemplation does not seek to banish all appearances; the appearance of emptiness is also an appearance and cannot be retained. Therefore one should understand: the appearance of emptiness is also nothing. Since emptiness is already empty, thinking "it is empty" is also wrong. Since one does not think "emptiness," conceptual searching suddenly ceases. One abides in non-thought. The path of words is cut off. One simply sits silently in correct posture.
Having completed these four levels of contemplation in forward order, one should then proceed to exit contemplation in reverse order. In each contemplation, one should be free from doubt and confusion, attaining clarity and certainty. The ultimate stage of non-thought, though it may seem to be no longer contemplative understanding, is precisely the perfection of clear discernment and selection. This is what is called non-discriminating wisdom (nirvikalpa-jñāna). One should constantly choose a quiet room and sit in proper posture to cultivate this practice. How could it fail to produce its merit? The Shūzen Yoketsu states: "Sitting alone, one may be troubled by demons; one should extend the practice through walking, standing, sitting, and lying down." (Extract the mind.)
Concluded.
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## Left Page: The Inconceivable (Fushigi) — by Ryōhen
Each bodhisattva fulfills the whole through a single practice. All of the vows and practices of Universal Virtue (Samantabhadra) of all bodhisattvas, and all the sacred teachings, expound the entirety of all root and branch, essence and function through a single principle. With regard to a person, it is called "that which is realized" (shōshō); with regard to teaching, it is called "that which is expressed" (shōsen). When the essence is sought according to reality, it is perfectly complete and fully endowed, with no increase or decrease. This is what is called the inconceivable dharma (acintya-dharma). This is because it transcends the domain of conceptual thinking and verbal deliberation. Thus, establishing names and distinguishing meanings are skillful means for guiding beings of various capacities. Being free from words and free from appearances is the true principle of self-realization. Therefore the practitioner takes refuge in Avalokiteśvara (Kannon) and proceeds to the gate of great compassion (mahākaruṇā). The dharma they hold is the dhāraṇī of great compassion, and fellow practitioners of the future are also practitioners of great compassion. Even though one invokes the great compassion of Avalokiteśvara, in reality one is fundamentally aspiring to dwell in the inconceivable. This is also the essence of the great teacher, Śākyamuni's silent composure — the dharma of the great Muni of ultimate transformation-of-the-basis (parāvṛtti).
**Question:** What separates the ordinary person from the great sage is precisely that conceptual thinking is separated from the inconceivable. Unless one departs from discrimination, one cannot enter that inconceivable realm. To merely read the textual teachings and straightaway presume to read this profound meaning — for those of limited understanding in this degenerate age, this is entirely beyond one's purview. Is it not presumptuous to approach a gate that lies beyond one's station?
**Answer:** For one as foolish, slothful, and of the lowest capacity as myself, I rather take the inconceivable as a partial [recourse]. If one adheres to step-by-step procedures and rules, and deliberates upon the causes and effects of good and evil, then even if one passes through many lifetimes and accumulates kalpas upon kalpas, entering the Great Vehicle properly through one's own power appears to have no foreseeable time of fulfillment. If the great sages, relying on even a single partial condition, can benefit us, it must lie only in the single gate of the inconceivable. Beyond this, I know of no other path.
**Question:** The Buddha realm is equal, and it does not discriminate in bestowing benefit. Why is it that in most cases beings are gradually and step by step attracted and guided through the gate of the conceivable, while in a few cases extraordinary benefit is bestowed horizontally and directly through the gate of the inconceivable? If one says that those who enter suddenly did so because in lifetime after lifetime they had cultivated inconceivable contemplation and visualization, and that on the contrary this is for those of dull and inferior capacities — then furthermore taking the lowest capacity as the very reason for surpassing others and privately expecting the benefit of the inconceivable is already akin to self-deception. Even if one hopes for it, how can one attain it? I am slothful and without shame, always lying in a sickbed, and yet I claim to rely on the inconceivable. This is a blemish upon the Buddha-dharma. Speak of it no more. Even if one does not put it into words, is it not a wrong view?
**Answer:** What you reproach is reasonable. However, it is not as the doubtful question assumes. Looking back at myself, I have already lost what I had hoped for; the only thing that remains is nothing but the inconceivable of the great sages. (For one such as I.) Even that inconceivable — I do not know the path by which it may be accessed. That being the case, what I am saying now is like the play of an infant or small child. Please do not forcefully challenge it.
**Question:** Now, taking refuge in the dhāraṇī, I wish to prepare the right practice (shōgyō) for encountering Avalokiteśvara. Does this accord with this gate, or does it lead in a different direction?
**Answer:** The secret dhāraṇī is, among the inconceivable, the most inconceivable. The term "secret" (himitsu) is an alternative name for the inconceivable. The essence of this dhāraṇī is: the dharma-body is inconceivable, the true nature is inconceivable, its verbal expression is inconceivable, its efficacy is inconceivable, its benefit is inconceivable — namely, the Buddha-fruit is inconceivable, sentient beings are inconceivable, the right practice is inconceivable, the empowerment (adhiṣṭhāna) is inconceivable, and so on. Therefore, a single recitation truly has the power to extinguish the four grave offenses and the five heinous acts. Further, upon first obtaining this dhāraṇī, one transcends 40,000 kalpas of birth and death. And all other such benefits similarly follow. If one [continues…]