The Four Maladies
[Sutra (#103) T 842.17.920b19; HPC 7.165a17]
The Contrivance Malady
Good sons, the subtle dharma that is actualized by this Genuine Teacher should be free from the Four Maladies. What are the Four Maladies? The first is the malady of "contrivance." Say, for example, there is someone who says "based on my original mind I shall carry out various practices" and wants to achieve Perfect Enlightenment. Since the nature of Perfect Enlightenment is not something that can be attained by contrivance, it is called a "malady."
[Translator's note: "Contrivance" constitutes my rendering of tsuo/chak in the present context. Other possible renderings might be "creation" or "production," but Kihwa specifically defines the meaning below as "doing with intention." It is in order to include the "intentional" aspect of the meaning that I have chosen "contrivance." Someone thinks that by his own special abilities and efforts (study, meditation, ritual, special techniques, associating with spiritual people, doing good deeds, and so forth) that he can attain enlightenment. While a person's efforts cannot be said to be meaningless, one should not expect that any arbitrary program of practice will necessarily lead to enlightenment. Luk translates as "the illness of action."]
The Naturalist Malady
[Sutra (#104)]
The second is the "naturalist" malady. Say, for example, there is someone who says, "We should presently neither cut off samsaara nor seek nirvana. Samsaara and nirvana actually lack any conception of arising and ceasing. We should just naturally go along with the various natures of reality," and wants to achieve Perfect Enlightenment. Since the nature of Perfect Enlightenment does not come about through "accepting things as they are," this is called a "malady."
[Translator's note: I translate jen/im as "naturalism" but only after strongly considering the usage of the term "acceptance" as it is interpreted in many modern/Western mental therapy and twelve-step programs to imply "accepting life on life's terms" or "accepting things as they are." This approach can be compared to a caricaturized "Taoist" view of Lao-tzu or Chuang-tzu. Being natural, just going along with things as they are, not trying to manipulate events--wu-wei. The cultivation of such an attitude could certainly be seen as a praiseworthy level of spiritual attainment. But the Buddha says that his enlightenment is not to be met in this way. Luk translates as "the illness of letting alone."]
The Stopping Malady
[Sutra (#105)]
The third is the "stopping" malady. Say, for example, there is someone who says "from my present thought, I shall permanently stop all thought and thus apprehend the cessation and equanimity of all natures" and wants to achieve Perfect Enlightenment. Since the nature of Perfect Enlightenment is not met through the stopping of thoughts, it is called a "malady."
The Annihilation Malady
[Sutra (#106)]
The fourth is the "annihilation" malady. Say, for example, there is someone who says "I will now permanently annihilate all defilements. Body and mind are ultimately empty, lacking anything. How much more should all the false realms of the sense organs and their objects be permanently erased?" and seeks Perfect Enlightenment. Since the characteristic of the nature of Perfect Enlightenment is not annihilation, it is called a "malady." When you are free from the Four Maladies, you will be aware of purity. The making of this observation is called "correct understanding." Any other observation is called "mistaken understanding."
[Translator's note: The annihilation malady is representative of a common tendency in Buddhism, especially Zen Buddhism. One might also call it the "emptiness" sickness. Holding inappropriately to an attitude of nonexistence of self and world can result in a dangerous nihilistic attitude. Luk translates as "the illness of elimination."]
[Kihwa] [HPC 7.165b10]
"Contrivance" means "doing with intention" and implies the creation of all good dharmas. "Stopping" means "stopping of thought" and implies the cessation of all mistaken thoughts. "Naturalism" means "letting things follow their course" and implies going along with all that the mind creates, without grasping to "contrivance" or "stopping." "Annihilation" means "extinction" and implies the destruction of defilements through the two emptinesses of mind and objects. Contrivance, stopping, acceptance and annihilation are attitudes in which the practitioner should not get stuck. As soon as there is something to which the mind gets attached, then there is an obstruction to enlightenment, and so it is called a malady.
Now the word "should" of "should be free from . . ." is a term indicating uncertain expectation. The insights of the Genuine Teacher, already being correct, should be free from the Four Maladies. But if he still has some attachment to one of the four views, he cannot be fully relied upon. Therefore the text says "should." The words near the end of this passage which say "when you are free of the Four Maladies you will be aware of purity" also carry the nuance that there are some who are not yet free.
Within the nature of Perfect Enlightenment there are no traces whatsoever of the Four Maladies. Once there is attachment to even one of them, purity is denied. One method can be trusted, but the other cannot. The ability to clearly discern what is acceptable and what is not, is called "correct insight." If it is not, then it is "mistaken." This answers the second question.