འཕགས་པ་དགངས་པ་ངས་པར་འགྲལ་པ་ཞས་བྱ་བ་ཐག་པ་ཆན་པའ་མད 31

31

in many ways the Bhagavān has spoken of the svalakṣaṇa of the eightfold noble path; he has spoken of its discordant factors, antidotes, cultivation, the arising of what has not arisen, the abiding of what has arisen, its non-forgetfulness, its recurrence, and its increase and expansion. Yet the Bhagavān has also stated, "All things are without self-nature (niḥsvabhāva); all things are unborn, unceasing, peaceful from the beginning, and naturally in nirvāṇa." With what intention did the Bhagavān state, "All things are without self-nature; all things are unborn, unceasing, peaceful from the beginning, and naturally in nirvāṇa"?' Therefore, Bhagavān, I ask the Bhagavān about the precise meaning with which the Bhagavān stated, 'All things are without self-nature; all things are unborn, unceasing, peaceful from the beginning, and naturally in nirvāṇa.'"

When he had spoken thus, the Bhagavān addressed the bodhisattva Paramārthasamudgata: "Paramārthasamudgata, excellent, excellent that such a virtuous and proper parikalpa arose in your mind! Paramārthasamudgata, it is further excellent that you have set out for the benefit of many people, the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world, and for the welfare, benefit, and happiness of beings including devas and humans, and have thought to ask the Tathāgata about this very meaning. Therefore, Paramārthasamudgata, listen, and I will explain to you with what intention I said, 'All things are without self-nature; all things are unborn, unceasing,