英語訳
## Right Page
### Jīgyō Shiyui (Self-Practice Contemplation) — by Ryōhen
**The Three Worlds Are Mind-Only; Illusory Emptiness, Non-Thought**
Sitting upright in contemplation, one reflects: The conditioned phenomena (saṃskāras) of all existence flow without end or beginning through birth and death, arriving now at this single moment of thought. Before and after this thought lie countless births and deaths; through hundreds and thousands of eons of dust-like kalpas, both words and deliberation are utterly cut off—there is no boundary or limit. These boundless moments of thought are, in their totality, entirely nonexistent, because they have already ceased before they arise and cannot be grasped. One should contemplate how all mental activities—the many varieties of defiled (sāsrava) and undefiled (anāsrava) dharmas—and the physical and environmental realms, both pure and impure, arise together and cease together. Therefore, the extreme limit of their fleeting, momentary duration does not exceed the span of a single thought. This single moment barely arises before it rapidly ceases. Neither the raging torrent nor the flash of lightning is an adequate simile. Birth and death are swift; a single thought perpetually turns. Deluded emotions are confused by this and take it to be eternally one (unchanging). But now, observing it, one sees it exists only within the one mind—like awakening from a dream, one recognizes that all of it is mind-only. Within this single moment there is the limitless; within it there are immeasurable minds. Now, this mind and its objects are simply the two functions of perceiving subject (nimitta) and perceived object (ālambana)—they are transformations of the mind's own essence. The mind's own essence is clear and pure in direct perception (pratyakṣa), with no distinction between self and other, this and that. This essence appears to transform and give rise to the many functions. Mount Sumeru and the iron encircling mountains—all of these are functions of mind. Since they are already transformations appearing as phenomenal functions, how could there be any substance apart from mind? The substance of function is the substance of (mind's) essence. There can be no substance of function outside (the mind). By this principle, all things are mind-only. It is like the light and reflected images within a mirror: the essence is the mirror itself, and outside the mirror there is nothing. Within this one mind, there is cause and there is effect.
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*(Lower section)*
The three dharmas (cause, condition, effect) mutually condition one another and are provisionally established within a single moment of thought. How could the dharmas of cause and effect be definitively different from one another? Cause is the principle of production operating within effect; effect is the principle of what is produced operating within cause. Through the cause, one sees the effect; apart from the cause, there is no effect. Through the effect, one sees the cause; apart from the effect, there is no cause. Cause and effect mutually lack independent, self-subsistent existence. Their own-nature is false and empty—that is empty, this is empty. Cause and effect are already, in reality, nonexistent. Beyond this, if one says there is yet another dharma—consider how a magical illusion, arising through the power of spells and substances, is provisionally assembled and therefore, though not truly existent, appears to exist, while its intrinsic nature is precisely emptiness. Contemplating this principle now, the present moment too is nonexistent. Already empty and still, it is like facing the great void. Now, even this appearance of emptiness should be removed. This contemplation does not seek to banish all appearances; the appearance of emptiness is also an appearance and cannot be retained. Therefore, one should know: even the appearance of emptiness is nonexistent. Since emptiness is itself empty, to think "it is empty" is also wrong. Because one does not think "it is empty," discursive thought suddenly ceases; one abides in non-thought. The path of language and words is severed. One sits silently upright.
Having now contemplated these four levels in forward order, one should return and exit the contemplation in reverse order. Within each contemplation, one should be free of doubt and confusion, clearly and resolutely comprehending. The position of utmost non-thought, though it may appear not to be contemplative understanding, is precisely the perfection of clear discernment and analysis. This is what is called non-discriminating wisdom (nirvikalpa-jñāna). One should constantly withdraw to a quiet room and sit upright in practice. How could this fail to produce its virtue? The *Shuzen Yōketsu* (*Essential Decisions on Meditation Practice*) states: "If one merely sits, one will be afflicted by demons. The practice should pervade walking, standing, sitting, and lying down." (Regarding the gathering of mind.)
End.
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## Left Page
### Fushigi (The Inconceivable) — by Ryōhen
Each of the various bodhisattvas fulfills all things through a single practice. All the bodhisattvas' vows of universal virtue (samantabhadra-caryā-praṇidhāna) and the various sacred teachings explain the totality of all roots, branches, essences, and functions through a single principle. In relation to a person it is called "that which is realized"; in relation to a teaching it is called "that which is expounded." When one seeks its essence in accordance with reality, it is perfect, complete, and fully endowed without increase or decrease. This is what is called the inconceivable dharma (acintyā-dharma). This is because it transcends the paths of discursive thought and verbal discourse. Therefore, establishing names and distinguishing meanings is skillful means (upāya) for guiding beings. To depart from words and depart from characteristics is the true principle of self-realization. Therefore, the practitioner takes refuge in Avalokiteśvara and approaches the gate of Great Compassion. The dharma he holds is also the great compassionate dhāraṇī, and the fellow practitioners he will encounter are also practitioners of Great Compassion. Although one invokes Avalokiteśvara's Great Compassion, the true intent is entirely to dwell in the Inconceivable. This is also the essence of the Great Teacher Śākyamuni's noble silence—the dharma of the ultimately transformed Great Sage (mahāmuni).
*Question:* What separates an ordinary person from the Great Sage is simply that conceptual thought (vitarka) is separated from the inconceivable. If one does not depart from discrimination, one cannot enter the inconceivable. To read the texts of the teaching and immediately seek to read this profound mystery—in the understanding of those in this degenerate age, this is entirely beyond their sphere. Is it not an overreach to approach so far beyond one's station?
*Answer:* For someone as foolish, lazy, and of the lowest capacity as myself, I rely instead on the Inconceivable as my one recourse. If I were to observe the proper sequential methods and deliberate over the causes and effects of good and evil, even though I pass through many lives, even if I accumulate kalpas, the prospect of correctly entering the Mahāyāna through my own power seems to have no time of arrival. If the Great Sage, through even a single conditional circumstance, were to benefit me and others, it would only be through the single gate of the Inconceivable. Beyond that, I know no other path.
*Question:* The Buddha-realm is equal and bestows benefit without discrimination. Why, then, is it the case that for the most part beings are gradually guided and embraced through the gate of the conceivable, while only for a few is the extraordinary benefit of the Inconceivable gate bestowed horizontally (i.e., transversally, outside the gradual path)? If one says that those who enter suddenly have practiced inconceivable contemplation and so forth through many lifetimes, then their faculties are in fact dim yet superior (a contradiction). Moreover, to make one's extreme lowliness of capacity the very reason to surpass others and secretly expect the benefit of the Inconceivable already resembles self-deception. Though one may aspire, how could one attain it? I am lazy and shameless, always lying on a sickbed, and yet I claim to rely on the Inconceivable. This is a blemish upon the Buddha-dharma. Say no more of it. Even if one does not speak the words aloud, is it not wrong view?
*Answer:* The criticism is apt. Yet it is not as the question suggests. Looking at myself, I have already lost what I hoped for; what little remains is only the Inconceivable of the Great Sage (and it is for this reason that I write). Even regarding that Inconceivable, I do not know the path by which it may be reached. Thus, what I now say is like the play of an infant or a child. Please do not be too harsh in your criticism.
*Question:* Now, by taking refuge in the dhāraṇī (sacred spell), I wish to prepare the proper practice (samyak-karma) for an encounter with Avalokiteśvara. Does this accord with this gate, or does it have a separate direction?
*Answer:* The secret dhāraṇī is, among all Inconceivables, the most Inconceivable. The term "secret" is simply another name for the Inconceivable. The essence of this dhāraṇī is inconceivable in its dharma-body, inconceivable in its true nature, inconceivable in its verbal expression, inconceivable in its power and function, and inconceivable in its benefit—namely, the Buddha-fruit is inconceivable, sentient beings are inconceivable, right practice is inconceivable, and empowerment (adhiṣṭhāna) is inconceivable, and so forth. Therefore, a single recitation truly has the power to extinguish the four grave offenses and the five heinous crimes (pañcānantarya). Moreover, upon first receiving this dhāraṇī, one transcends forty thousand kalpas of birth and death. And so it is in all such cases. If...