本覺

(本覺, 本觉)

Original (sa) bodhi, i. e. 'enlightenment', awareness, knowledge, or wisdom, as contrasted with [lang id =1028]始覺 initial knowledge, that is 'enlightenment a priori is contrasted with enlightenment a posteriori'. Suzuki, <Awakening of Faith>, P. 62. The reference is to universal mind [lang id =1028]衆生之心體, which is conceived as pure and intelligent, with [lang id =1028]始覺 as active intelligence. It is considered as the (sa) Buddha-dharmakāya, or as it might perhaps be termed, the fundamental mind. Nevertheless in action from the first it was influenced by its antithesis [lang id =1028]無明 ignorance, the opposite of awareness, or true knowledge. See [lang id =1028]起信論 and [lang id =1028]仁王經,[lang id =1028]中. There are two kinds of [lang id =1028]本覺, one which is unconditioned, and never sullied by ignorance and delusion, the other which is conditioned and subject to ignorance. In original enlightenment is implied potential enlightenment in each being.

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◆謂眾生心體靈明虛廓， 本來離念， 等虛空界， 無處不遍， 即是如來平等法身， 是名本覺。 ◆謂一切眾生， 自性清淨， 心體本來覺了， 離諸妄念， 故名本覺。 ◆謂一切眾生自性清淨心源， 離於妄念， 即寂而照， 等虛空界， 無所不遍， 法界一相， 即是如來平等法身， 故名本覺。 ◆本即直性， 覺即智慧。 論云： 所言覺義者， 謂心體離念， 離念相者， 等虛空界， 無所不遍， 即是如來平等法身， 依此法身， 說名本覺。 （心體離念者， 謂本覺心源之體， 離於妄念也。 等虛空界， 無不遍者， 虛空無邊， 以譬本覺之性體量充廓也。 平等法身者， 諸佛悟之不為高， 眾生迷之不為下， 生佛不二也。 ）

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一切眾生本來就有的覺性。