金剛經纂要刊定記 2.68

2.68

Speaking of "existence": it has arising and ceasing. This means that phenomena arise when conditions assemble, and cease when conditions disperse. As the monk Aśvajit spoke in verse for Śāriputra: "All phenomena arise from conditions; / when conditions disperse, phenomena cease. / Such ceasing and arising / the Śramaṇa has declared." As for "śūnyatā": since they belong to causes and conditions, one knows they lack intrinsic substance; lacking intrinsic substance is the meaning of śūnyatā. Therefore the *Madhyamaka-śāstra* says: "Whatever phenomenon is produced by causes and conditions, / that I declare to be precisely śūnyatā." As for "conventional designation": like an image in a mirror or the moon in water, although unreal, when conditions assemble, they cannot but appear. Therefore the *Vimalakīrti* says: "This body is like a shadow, / appearing from karma and conditions."