The Buddha of Suchness As-Is (3.2)

Part 1

Nanquan's lecture continues, prompted by a question from a monk. It will continue for about 7 more posts after this, so links will be provided to earlier sections for context.

Nanquan (3.2)

僧問。大道不屬見聞覺知。A monk asked, "[You claim that] the Great Way is not belonging to [that which one] 'sees, hears, feels, or knows'.
未審如何契會。[We] have not yet examined how [such an] agreement [as this] is understood?"

師云。須會冥契自通。The Master said, "[One] must understand [this] profound agreement [as] self-evincing.
亦云了因非從見聞覺知有。It is also said, the cause of 'finishing'¹ is not from what is 'seen heard felt or known.'
見知屬緣。[What is] 'seen and known' belong to [the realm of] 'causes'.
對物始有。[Due to] contact with objects, they begin to exist.
者箇靈妙不可思議不是有對。[With] this mysterious, inconceivable thing, there is no contact.
故云妙用自通。For this reason, it is said it's wonderous use is self-evincing,
不依傍物。[and] not dependent upon objects. 所以道。Therefore, it is said:
通不是依通。Evincement is not dependent upon evincement.
事須假物方始得見。'Affairs' must borrow objects, [and] only then [will one] begin 'seeing'.
所以道非明暗。Therefore, the Way is not 'bright or dark'.²
法離有離無。The Dharma is apart from 'existence' and 'non-existence'.
潛理幽通。[This] hidden Principle's secluded evincement,
無人覺知。no one feels or knows.
亦云冥會真理。It is also said, the profound understanding [of the] True Principle
非見聞覺知。is not 'seen, heard, felt, or known'.
故云息心達本源。For this reason it is said, the Resting Mind amounts to the Fundamental Source.
故號如如佛。For this reason, it is named 'the Buddha of Suchness As-Is'.
畢竟無依自在人。After all, [a person] without dependence [is a] free person.
亦云本果不從生因之所生。It is also said, the Fundamental Fruit does not begin from 'beginning'.
文殊云。惟從了因之所了。Manjusri said, "Finishing is only caused from 'finishing'.
不從生因之所生。It does not begin from 'beginning'."

Notes:
1. 了 (finishing) appears several times throughout this section, and means "finish; conclude; settle; dispose of", in the sense of being done with something.
2. 明暗 (bright or dark) can also be rendered as 'seen or unseen; clear or unclear'.

Submitted May 13, 2023 at 06:43PM by Surska0 https://ift.tt/bTZKgkB