英語訳
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...exploring deep secrets, dividing their branch streams, exhausting their root sources, in order to crush and destroy boundless heterodox confusion and select the ultimate pure mind, wielding wonderful eloquence and adjusting extraordinary phrases for the benefit of all beings. Besides these, separate works like the Mahāyāna-saṃgraha, Buddha-bhūmi, and Daśabhūmika treatises are all foundational sources whose number cannot be known. Now, focusing on the Yogācāra, I merely raise the subsidiary parts. The transmission of the lamp is extremely flourishing—what matter could compare to this? Could all these wonderful texts possibly be false and unreal discourse?
Fourth, the superiority of definitive sacred teachings: As listed above regarding the fundamental sūtras, fundamental treatises, and subsidiary treatises—if others were to understand and reconcile these as their own true teachings, then although our school is correctly grounded in the great sage's teachings, the doctrine would still be difficult to establish, because when disputing the foundational teachings, each belongs to us. But when it comes to the foundational teachings of Dharma-characteristics, others acknowledge them as sacred teachings but cannot reconcile them, opening them entirely to us and merely calling them provisional teachings. Thus we know that regarding our school's definitive sacred teachings, others do not dispute this point.
The main meaning is: the principle of provisional and ultimate is what is currently being disputed. Let us set this aside for now. Regarding the true teachings of the great sage, there is absolutely no dissenting opinion. Based on there being no dissenting opinion, we first consider this superior. If not, why call them provisional teachings? If you allow this, then our principle is immediately established. Even if not entirely provisional, though they contain aspects of the ultimate, because they still mix the provisional, calling them provisional makes the principle of definitive sacred teachings all the more easy to establish.
However, there is something that should be clarified here. What we now aim to establish does not mean that the correct teachings and principles of other schools are not true sacred Dharma. Although they are sacred Dharma of profound wonderful principles, they lack clear and definitive textual evidence. The seemingly authoritative teachings you have, we all reconcile as our own true teachings and do not call them false. In our school, since there are already clear and definitive sacred teachings that you cannot understand, they belong to us.
If so, since these are definitive sacred teachings, we have never heard that the great sage spoke untrue words. This is precisely how our school surpasses others.
Fifth, the superiority of complete doctrinal paths: Since the foundational teachings are already clear, we must reveal the superiority and wonder of their principles and doctrine. Within this, we should first reveal the virtue of completeness. Our school has wonderful principles through many approaches, and its names are not singular. Looking toward spiritual capacity, we name it "Universal Vehicle Teaching" because there is no capacity that it does not benefit. Examining principle, we call it "Corresponding-to-Principle Complete Reality" because there is no principle to which it does not correspond. Regarding characteristics, we call it "Dharma-characteristics Mahāyāna" because there is no characteristic it does not discuss. Relying on contemplation, we call it "Consciousness-only Middle Way" because there is no contemplation that is not middle.
These four names and meanings are not separate from each other. Capacity, principle, characteristics, and contemplation all encompass the myriad dharmas, vast and boundless like great empty space, inexhaustibly layered like Indra's net. Wanting to describe their complete perfection and perfect clarity, both thought and discussion are cut off, and brush and ink can hardly preserve it. Now, just following common usage, I will briefly explain the name and meaning of "Dharma-characteristics."
Dharma means the myriad dharmas, briefly the hundred dharmas. Characteristics means the myriad characteristics, briefly the three characteristics. Speaking of the hundred dharmas, as in the Hundred Dharmas Treatise—due to length, I will not include it. Speaking of the three characteristics, as in the Sarva-dharma-lakṣaṇa chapter, taking the essential points: namely, the characteristic of imagination (parikalpita), the characteristic of dependence (paratantra), and the characteristic of perfect reality (pariniṣpanna). Each of the hundred dharmas has these three characteristics, hence the name "Dharma-characteristics." Since it penetrates true characteristics, who would call it a shallow name?
Within this, first speaking of the characteristic of imagination: the fundamental sūtra explains: "Namely, the names, conventional designations, own-nature, and distinctions of all dharmas... in order to give rise to verbal expression." The fundamental treatise is the same. The Consciousness-only Treatise states: "Foolish beings wrongly grasp at the existence/non-existence, unity/difference, both/neither, etc. of self and dharmas. Like sky-flowers, their nature and characteristics are completely absent. All are called 'imagined characteristics.'"
All characteristic states that we ordinary beings, Two Vehicle practitioners, and others with contaminated deluded consciousness conceive through names and conventional designations—whether existent or non-existent, both existent and non-existent, neither existent nor non-existent, whether one or different, both or neither, whether form or non-form, both or neither, whether mind or non-mind, both or neither—continuing thus to each tree, each blade of grass, each piece of clothing, each atom, and all dharmas, all phenomena, all four-fold propositions, and immeasurable characteristics countless as Ganges sands—all are imagined characteristics. All are like sky-flowers, completely without substantial nature. Due to grasping them, we revolve in birth and death. Those seeking liberation should all abandon them. This is precisely the delusion regarding the hundred dharmas. The real existence of impermanence, real existence of the unconditioned, etc. established by the Lesser Vehicle are all included here.
Next, speaking of the characteristic of dependence: the fundamental sūtra explains: "Namely, the dependent origination nature of all dharmas—when this exists, that exists; when this arises, that arises," etc. The fundamental treatise is the same. The Consciousness-only Treatise states: "Namely, mind, mental factors, and their transformations arise from multiple causes. Like magical creations, they are not existent yet seem existent, deluding foolish beings. All are called 'dependent nature.'"
This is the hundred dharmas as objects of post-enlightenment sacred wisdom. Though without self-nature, they have conventional existence depending on others. Their conventional existence is apparent existence. Apart from appearance, there is no convention. Their apparent existence is still conventional existence. Apart from convention, there is no appearance. The conventional substance is fundamentally non-existent, but depending on conditions seems to exist—this is called arising. One should know that dharmas have no real arising. The conventional substance temporarily exists, and when conditions cease it seems non-existent—this is called cessation. One should know that dharmas have no real cessation.
Generally, all expressions of dependent origination, dependent arising, etc. that our school discusses have this meaning. Real arising and cessation are dharmas established by non-Buddhists and other vehicles that we vigorously refute. The beginning and end of this treatise are all thus. Do not allow confusion. These apparently existing, conventionally arising and ceasing dharmas of myriad differences in form and mind—though not completely non-existent, are not really existent. They are like magical creations, mirages, dream states, mirror images, shadows, echoes, moon in water, and magical transformations. They are free from all verbal expressions and free from all conceptual discrimination. What they are free from is precisely those previously mentioned boundless four-fold propositions of imagined characteristics—all verbal expressions, discriminations, and delusions.
Having thus separated, letting awareness rest naturally as it really is, all dharmas that are not existent yet seem existent still possess boundless four-fold propositions without grasping. For instance, seeing one material object—it exists, it doesn't exist, both exist and don't exist, neither exists nor doesn't exist, it's one, it's different, both are so, neither is so—such propositions are immeasurable and countless, all can be understood by the above.
Next, speaking of the characteristic of perfect reality: the fundamental sūtra explains: "Namely, the equal suchness of all dharmas," etc. The fundamental treatise is the same. The Consciousness-only Treatise states: "On dependent nature, both self and dharmas that are wrongly grasped are empty. The true nature of consciousness etc. revealed by this emptiness is called perfect reality."
This is the nature of the hundred dharmas as realized by fundamental correct wisdom. Namely, regarding those illusion-like apparently existing false forms, etc., there are fundamentally no imagined immeasurable four-fold propositions. The inconceivable reality revealed by this absence is precisely the true principle of all dharmas. This principle is fundamentally pure by nature, possesses immeasurable subtle wonderful qualities, is without arising or cessation, clear like empty space, equally shared by all sentient beings, neither one nor different from all dharmas, with the path of conceptual thought cut off and the way of verbal expression severed.
Therefore, though it fundamentally possesses boundless virtues, due to adventitious obstructions it is not manifested. When the true noble path arises and cuts off those obstructions, all objective characteristics of existence/non-existence, unity/difference, both/neither, etc. that are wrongly grasped no longer appear, and then it begins to be manifested. Principle and wisdom unite mysteriously. Through this, one becomes distant from all four-fold propositions grasped by deluded consciousness, yet also possesses the countless [qualities] realized by awakened consciousness...
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[Content continues with detailed explanations of the three characteristics and their implications...]