..续本文上一页inanimate objects, such as the grass, trees and stones. Who, then, will be the enjoyer

　　"Moreover, essence-nature is the quintessence of ”Becoming and Cessation” whose manifestation is the union of the five ”aggregates” (body, sensation, perception, consciousness and intellection). That is to say,

　　p. 294

　　from one essence, five functions arise. This process of Becoming and Cessation is everlasting. When function and operation ”arise” from the quintessence, it becomes; when operation and function are ”absorbed” back into the quintessence, it ceases to exist. If reincarnation is admitted, there will be no Cessation of Changes, as in the case of sentient beings. If reincarnation is out of the question, then things will remain forever in a state of lifeless quintessence, like the case of inanimate objects. When this is the case, under the limitations and restrictions of Nirvana, even existence would be impossible to all things, much less enjoyment."

　　"You are a Bhikkhu," said the Patriarch, "how can you adopt the fallacious views of Eternalism and Annihilationism that are held by heretics, and venture to criticise the teaching of the Supreme Vehicle

　　 Your argument implies that apart from the physical body, there is an essence body; and that Perfect Rest and Cessation of Change may be sought apart from ”Becoming and Cessation.” Further, from the statement, ”Nirvana is everlasting rest,” you infer that there must be somebody to play the part of enjoyer.

　　"It is exactly these fallacious views that makes people crave for sentiate existence and worldly pleasure. These people are the victims of ignorance; they identify the union of the five aggregates as the ”self” and regard all other things as ”not-self”; they crave for inpidual existence and have an aversion to death; they are drifting about from one momentary sensation to another in the whirlpool of life and death without realising the emptiness of mundane existence which is only a dream and an illusion; they commit themselves

　　p. 295

　　to unnecessary suffering by binding themselves to rebirth; they mistake the state of everlasting joy of Nirvana to be a mode of suffering; they are always seeking after sensual pleasures. It was for these people, victims of ignorance, that the compassionate Buddha preached the real bliss of Nirvana.

　　"Never for a moment was Nirvana either the phenomena of Becoming and Cessation, or the ceasing of Becoming and Cessation. It is the perfect manifestation of Rest and Cessation of Change, and at the ”time” of manifestation, there is no such thing as manifestation. It is called ”everlasting” joy because it has neither enjoyer nor non-enjoyer.

　　"There is no such thing as ”one quintessence and five manifestations.” You are slandering Buddha and blaspheming the Dharma, when you go so far as to state that under the limitation and restriction of Nirvana, living is impossible to all beings. Listen to this stanza:--

　　"The Supreme Maha Parinirvana

　　Is perfect, permanent, calm. radiantly illuminative.

　　Common and ignorant people miscall it death.

　　While heretics arbitrarily declare it to be annihilation.

　　Those who belong to the Small Vehicle and to the Middle Vehicle

　　Regard Nirvana as ”non-action.”

　　All these are merely intellectual speculations,

　　And they form the basis of the sixty-two fallacious views.

　　Since they are merely names, invented for the occasion,

　　They have nothing to do with Absolute Truth.

　　Only those of super-eminent mind p. 296

　　Can understand thoroughly what Nirvana is,

　　And take an attitude toward it of neither attachment nor indifference.

　　They know that the five aggregates,

　　And the so-called ”self” arising from the aggregates,

　　Together with all external forms and objects,

　　And the various phenomena of words and voice,

　　Are all equally unreal, like a dream or…

《Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch - Chapter VI· Dialogues Suggested by Various Temperaments and Circumstances》全文未完，请进入下页继续阅读…