明佛法根本碑
Sutra of the Fundamental Principles of the Buddha's Teachings
大興善寺大曼拏攞阿闍梨三藏智慧論述
Commentary on the Great Mandala from the Acarya at Daxingshan Temple
佛根本者。薄伽梵大毘盧遮那。為諸佛所依。法根本者。真言陀羅尼。為諸法所依。十方法界塵剎海會一切如來果滿聖賢。皆依毘盧遮那淨妙法身。現自他受用及變化身。所詮教理皆真言陀羅尼門。流演三藏教法。既隨根性。有大小乘三藏。各證戒定慧及蘊處界緣聖諦食等法。所謂素怛覽比擿迦。唐言契經藏。微奈耶比擿迦。唐言調伏藏。阿毘達磨比擿迦。唐言對法藏。即是契經律論藏。故稱三藏。真言陀羅尼門一字具攝一切三藏教理行果。若解一尊陀羅尼教。即三藏陀羅尼者。唐言總持者。持一切惡法不生。持一切善法不滅。摧却一切雜染之法。證得清淨法界等流教法。言總藏持者。於一字義中。悟無量百千甚深妙義。修行宣說逆順自在。言三摩地總持者。由此陀羅尼故。三摩地現前。悟無量百千三摩地門。是故菩薩常於六趣示現受生。不被煩惱隨煩惱壞。證大神通。成就利樂無邊有情。言文字總持者。由此陀羅尼。成就於一字中所聞所誦無量蘇多羅。永不忘失。當知陀羅尼者。遍持三身大功德法佛之法性法住法界。總持諸法也。三世如來皆依此門而成正覺。若樂修行者。應從瑜珈阿闍梨。發無上大菩提心。受三摩耶戒。入大曼拏攞得灌頂者。然許授受修行也。受大毘盧遮那一切如來五智灌頂。紹阿闍梨位。方可傳教也。灌頂者冊命受位之義。受佛智體金剛名號。從此已後。受得廣大甚深不思議法。超越二乘十地。名大金剛薩埵。阿闍梨者。紹佛傳法。行如來事。修佛身密之戒律。持佛語密之真言。依佛心密之正智。為有情三密之度門。成無上三身之果位。示教示歸。稽首世尊大慈悲者。開演法門無教。斯乃普應群心。大略八萬四千。總攝在其三藏。未入正法者。令入正法。故說修多羅藏也。入正法者。令受持學處。故說微奈耶藏。已受持學處者。令通達諸法真實性相。故說阿毘達磨藏。既隨根性。遂有大小乘三藏。各詮戒定慧學。依教信解。修行相應。證成其果。小即四果三覺。大即地前十地。皆是佛說。咸指佛心。又有最上乘三藏。亦名佛乘。圓開灌頂超昇等妙之尊。三密四印相應。頓證三身佛果。指歸曰。
The foundation of the Buddha is Bhagavan Mahāvairocana, the source of all Buddhas. The foundation of the Dharma is mantra and dhāraṇī, the source of all teachings. The infinite assemblies of Tathāgatas, sages and saints throughout the ten directions and countless worlds, all rely on the pure and wondrous Dharma-body of Vairocana. From this, they manifest the bodies of self-enjoyment, other-enjoyment, and transformation. All the teachings and principles they express come from the gate of mantra and dhāraṇī, flowing forth into the three scriptural collections. In accordance with beings’ capacities, there are the three collections of the Greater and Lesser Vehicles. Each vehicle realizes the methods of moral discipline, meditative concentration, and wisdom, as well as the aggregates, sense bases, elements, dependent origination, and noble truths.
What is called the Sūtra Piṭaka (in Chinese, the “Scriptural Collection”) is the collection of discourses. What is called the Vinaya Piṭaka (in Chinese, the “Regulation Collection”) is the collection of disciplinary codes. What is called the Abhidharma Piṭaka (in Chinese, the “Correlative Doctrine Collection”) is the collection of higher teachings. These are the three collections of sūtras, vinaya, and abhidharma, hence the name “Tripiṭaka.”
The gate of mantra and dhāraṇī can, in a single syllable, fully encompass all the teachings, principles, practices, and fruits of the three collections. If you understand one dhāraṇī of a single deity, you understand the entire Tripiṭaka. Dhāraṇī means “total retention” – it holds back all unwholesome dharmas so they do not arise, and it maintains all wholesome dharmas so they do not cease. It destroys all defiled dharmas and realizes the pure Dharma-realm and the teachings that flow from it. “Total retention of meaning” means that within the significance of a single syllable, one awakens to countless profound subtle meanings, and can practice and teach freely in all circumstances. “Total retention of samādhi” means that through this dhāraṇī, samādhi appears before one, and one awakens to countless gates of samādhi. Therefore, bodhisattvas constantly manifest births in the six realms without being destroyed by afflictions or secondary afflictions. They realize great spiritual powers and accomplish the benefit and joy of countless beings. “Total retention of syllables and words” means that through this dhāraṇī, one accomplishes the remembering of countless sūtras heard and recited in a single syllable, without ever forgetting.
Know that dhāraṇī thoroughly upholds the great meritorious Dharmas of the Three Bodies, the Dharma-nature of the Buddha, the abiding Dharma, and the Dharma-realm. It is the total retention of all dharmas. All Tathāgatas of the past, present, and future attain perfect enlightenment through this gate.
If one wishes to cultivate this path, one should first go to a Yoga Ācārya, generate the supreme mind of enlightenment, receive the samaya precepts, enter the great maṇḍala, and obtain the initiation. Only then is one permitted to receive and transmit the practice. Receiving the initiation of the five wisdoms of all Tathāgatas from Mahāvairocana, one succeeds to the position of Ācārya and can then transmit the teachings. Initiation means the conferral of rank – receiving the vajra name of the wisdom essence of the Buddha. From then on, one obtains vast, profound, and inconceivable Dharmas, surpassing the two vehicles and the ten stages. One becomes a Great Vajra Sattva. An Ācārya is one who succeeds the Buddha and transmits the Dharma, carrying out the work of the Tathāgata. They cultivate the precepts of the Buddha’s body-secret, uphold the mantras of the Buddha’s speech-secret, and rely on the right wisdom of the Buddha’s mind-secret. They serve as the gate of the three secrets for beings, attaining the supreme fruit of the three bodies, teaching and guiding beings to return.
I bow to the World-Honored One, the greatly compassionate one, who opened and expounded the countless Dharma gates. These broadly respond to all minds, roughly eighty-four thousand in number, but all are encompassed by the three collections. For those who have not yet entered the true Dharma, it is taught so they may enter – thus the Sūtra Piṭaka is explained. For those who have entered the true Dharma, it is taught so they may uphold the precepts – thus the Vinaya Piṭaka is explained. For those who already uphold the precepts, it is taught so they may penetrate the true nature of all dharmas – thus the Abhidharma Piṭaka is explained.
In accordance with beings’ capacities, there are the three collections of the Greater and Lesser Vehicles, each explaining the learning of moral discipline, meditative concentration, and wisdom. Based on the teachings, one develops faith and understanding, cultivates accordingly, and realizes the fruits. The Lesser Vehicle results in the four fruits and three enlightenments; the Greater Vehicle results in the stages up to the tenth ground. All these are taught by the Buddha and all point to the Buddha-mind.
There is also the collection of the Supreme Vehicle, also called the Buddha Vehicle. It fully reveals the initiation and the stages of sublime enlightenment, and the corresponding practice of the three secrets and four seals. It brings about the sudden realization of the fruit of the three Buddha bodies. This is the ultimate teaching.
一乘三藏 佛法根源 大覺開示 灌頂相傳
覺入悟入 三業清堅 受佛等戒 上如來禪
真言慧解 知見無邊 分明了了 月滿珠圓
普周無盡 利樂隨緣
The One Vehicle and the Three Treasuries— The very root of the Buddha's teachings, Revealed by the Great Awakened One.
Through the transmission of initiation, Awakening enters and understanding dawns, With the three actions purified and firm.
Receive the equal precepts of the Buddha, Practice the highest Chan of the Thus-Come One, And grasp the wisdom of the True Word.
Knowledge and vision are boundless, Clear and luminous, fully understood— Like the full moon or a perfect pearl.
Extending everywhere without limit, Bringing benefit and joy to all, responding to each moment's conditions.
此教有十萬誐他。灌頂傳受。乃至一切如來三密內證同體加持。一一修行。從師指授。發一心是諸佛心。修一行是諸佛行。悟一法總持諸法了。諸法共依一演。一字生無量字入一字。
This teaching contains one hundred thousand Gatha verses, transmitted through initiation rituals. It encompasses the three mysteries of all Tathagatas—the inner realization and unified empowerment. Every single practice must be personally instructed by a teacher. Awakening one's mind is to awaken the mind of all Buddhas; cultivating one practice is to cultivate the practice of all Buddhas; understanding one teaching is to master all teachings. All teachings rely on a single principle: each word gives rise to infinite words, yet all return to this one word.
字體本空。實性無窮。執持情剎。法佛真宮。無邊聖會。互即重重。或收或教。殊圓月貫。心鏡照明。菩提果滿。成濟無住。真常不斷。
The written word is inherently empty; True nature has no limit. Hold fast to the realm of feeling; The Dharma-Buddha's true palace— An endless holy assembly, Each interpenetrating all. Sometimes withdrawing, sometimes teaching, Like the full moon threaded through. The mind's mirror shines with light; The fruit of enlightenment is full. Compassion saves without attachment; True eternity never ends.
根本佛法碑
Stele of Fundamental Dharma