Tongli's comments

T’ung-li says, “Search the three periods / the mind isn’t there / if the mind isn’t there / false conditions aren’t there / if false conditions aren’t there / this then is bodhi / sansara and nirvana / are basically equal.”

T’ung-li says, “The Buddha’s three bodies are like a reflection on sunlit water. The incarnated body is the reflection. The reward body is the sunlight. And the real body is the water. Here, the Buddha tells Subhuti that if he wants to see the water, he needs to look past the reflection and the sunlight.”

T’ung-li says, “The dharmas the Buddha wants us to let go of are the dharma of self, the dharma of dharma, and the dharma of emptiness. The Buddha first teaches people that the self is empty to keep them from clinging to the self. He then teaches them that dharmas are empty to keep them from clinging to dharmas. Finally, he teaches them that emptiness is empty to keep them from clinging to emptiness. Here, however, the word ‘dharma’ refers not to the perception of a dharma but to the teachings of the Buddha, while ‘no dharma’ refers not to the absence of such a perception but to such worldly matters as wealth and fame.”

T’ung-li says, “If we say he realizes or teaches something, we fall into the view of idealism. If we say he does not realize or teach anything, we disappear into the view of nihilism.”

T’ung-li says, “By ‘sages’ is meant the buddhas and bodhisattvas of the past, the future, and the present throughout the ten directions.”

T’ung-li says, “The physical body is the sum. The attributes are the particulars. The attributes are what adorn. The physical body is what is adorned. The mystery of adornment depends completely on what can adorn.”

T’ung-li says, “The ancients said, ‘A single magic pearl is a thousand times more precious than all the jewels in the sea.’”

T’ung-li says, “Although this is the sixth such comparison, it only involves an offering of a billion mountains of jewels. This is inferior to the first comparison, not to mention the second through the fifth. What is the meaning of a subsequent offering being inferior? It is because before a person cultivates, belief and understanding are difficult. Once they understand, cultivation and realization are easy. When something is difficult, the comparison should be greater. When it’s easy, anything will do. Thus, the chapters on cultivation are now over. Still, a comparison can be used to lead others forward.”

T’ung-li says, “The Mahayana is both provisional and absolute. For example, the elementary teaching of the Mahayana is provisional, while the final, instantaneous, and perfect teachings are absolute. This sutra is not only provisional but also absolute. By setting forth on it, one enters the final, instantaneous path. Continuing on, one enters the perfect path. Thus is it called setting forth on the best of paths.”

T’ung-li says, “If the Tathagata could be seen by means of bodily attributes, his disciples would have become attached to form.”